Digest

Information
“To reduce crime and the fear of crime, tackle youth
crime and violent, sexual and drug-related crime,
anti-social behaviour and disorder, increasing safety
in the home and public spaces.”
Home Office Aim 1

This statement confirms our joint commitment to reduce crime and disorder. The Digest
is published quarterly and aims to support crime reduction/community safety practitioners
in police and local authorities working in statutory partnerships by facilitating information
exchange. The Digest is a forum for your initiatives and experiences. Its success depends on
you, the practitioners, contributing your articles. Deadline for copy is given below. Articles
MUST be submitted by this date.
So that everyone can benefit from your work and experience, we ask contributors to
consider both what worked and what didn’t work within their projects. Projects may be well
conceived and still not achieve all their aims; this does not mean they have failed. Please be
brave enough to discuss what aspects did not achieve the expected outcomes. Include as
much information as you can, covering the analysis of the problem and how it was
identified, the response devised and how it was implemented and an assessment of the final
outcomes.

Note:
The inclusion of material in the Digest or reference to any products/services does not
signify that they have been tested or evaluated. Nor should inclusion be thought to confer
‘official’ approval.
You can reproduce material from this Digest, but we ask that you reference CRC and the
originating organisation as the source, do not use the information out of context and
that there are no charges connected with the reproduction of the material.
January 2005
The next Digest will be
Centre Staff with you in April ‘05.

Director’s Office Training Resource Solutions Learning & Development

All contributions must
Steve Trimmins Martin Jones Team
be submitted by
Ann Keen Simon Jones David Fernley
February 25th 2005.
Michael Hawtin Gill Archibald
Centre Support Bob Sanders June Armstrong
Liz Walton Janet Caton Contributions to:
Pam Foster Information Services Dee Cooley Jane Jones
Adrienne Jowitt-Thrall Jane Carpenter Martin Fenlon Information Services Team
Mark Ledder Stuart Charman Jason Roach Tel: 01347 825095
Dianne Waudby Gary Ingham Kim Sutton Fax: 01347 825097
Ruth Whitaker Jane Jones
Kathleen Noble Editor Home Office
Richard Wales Jane Jones Crime Reduction Centre
Design/Production The Hawkhills, Easingwold,
Michael Hawtin York YO61 3EG
Tel: 01347 825060
For Training or General Enquiries:
Fax: 01347 825099
Tel: 01347 825060 E-mail: crc@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

January 2005 1
Contents
Any views expressed in this
publication are those of the
authors and may not
necessarily reflect Home Office
or Government policy.
2 Contents
News 4
Crime Reduction Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Good Practice Seminars 2004/2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Advanced Associate Trainers Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Community Safety Qualifications Questionnaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Ideas Exchange - 'What Are You Doing?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Digest Submissions Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Ideas and Initiatives 7
Oxford’s Park & Ride System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
'On the Beat with Mark and Eddie' - Wythenshawe FM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Forecourt Watch Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Super Kids - Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
A Guide to Health and Safety in Newspaper Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Operation Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Capture the Deal – Capture the Thieves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
‘Go Easy’ Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Home Safety Information Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
‘Boro Buzz’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
‘Don’t be a Target’ Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
The ‘Big Screen’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Operation Payback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Theft from Motor Vehicles Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Graffiti Watch Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Crucial Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Three Strikes Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
SAFER HOMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
‘Fun Day’ for Safety Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Rochdale Case Intervention Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
No Trick or Treaters, Thank You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Partnership Working 17
Car Clear Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Safer Swansea Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Sexual Assault Referral Centres and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships
(CDRPs) dealing with Sexual Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Surrey Neighbourhood Watch Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Nuisance Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Community Graffiti Murals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Tackling Mobile Phone Theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Operation Cascade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Domestic Violence Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Promoting Home Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
January 2005
Publications & Publicity 22
Rural Racism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Beacon Learning Exchange Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Reclaiming the Streets: Surveillance, social control and the city . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Drugs and Crime: Second edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Sustainable Solutions to Anti-social Behaviour: Local Government’s joined-up
approaches to tackling anti-social behaviour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Facilitating community involvement: practical guidance for
practitioners and policy makers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
CCTV and Policing: Public Area Surveillance and Police Practices in Britain . . . . . . . .25
Problem-Oriented Policing: From Innovation to Mainstream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Policing Drugs on the streets of Europe Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Tackling Drugs Supply Conference and Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Fear and Fashion: The use of knives and other weapons by young people . . . . . . . . .27
What works in community involvement in area-based initiatives?
A systematic review of the literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Building Communities, Beating Crime: A better police service for the 21st Century . .28
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Drugs Use and Begging: A Practice Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
National ‘Market Place’ Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Drug Misuse 2004: Reducing the local impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Secured by Design Innovation Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Secured by Design Bi-Monthly Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Research 32 Each article in the Digest

is highlighted with an
Parental drug and alcohol misuse: Resilience and transition among young people . .32 icon which defines
When Violence Hits Home: How Economics and Neighborhood Play a Role . . . . . . . . .33 the product described in
Crime in England and Wales: Quarterly Update to June 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 that article. They are:
Problem-Oriented Guides for Police - Underage Drinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Tackling domestic violence: exploring the health service contribution . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Campaign/
Tackling Domestic Violence: the role of health professionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Initiative
Decision-making by house burglars: offender’s perspectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Piloting ‘On the spot penalties’ for disorder: final results from a one-year pilot . . . . .36 Publication
ID Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Talking Shop 37 Video

Answers on a Postcard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Criminology Corner 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Website/
Electronic
Information

General/
Exchange
of Ideas/
Conferences

January 2005 Contents 3

News Crime Reduction Website
The Crime Reduction Website has seen
some major updates over the past few
months including the addition of 10
Second Polls to the site's Homepage. These
are quick questions, intended to be fast, fun
and interesting to help both the web team
and site users get an idea of what other
practitioners think and feel about crime
reduction issues. Questions are updated at
least every 2 weeks. The first 10 Second Poll
asked 'How do you feel about the Crime &
Disorder Act review?' Responses include:
17% of users felt optimistic.
35.8% cautious.
13.2% pessimistic.
13.2% indifferent.
20.8% asked “What CDA review”?
You can visit the poll on the Crime
Reduction Website at:
www.crimereduction.gov.uk
A new Neighbourhood Watch (NHW)
Mini-site aimed at NHW Co-ordinators is
now available on the Crime Reduction
Website (www.crimereduction.gov.uk/
neighbourhoodwatch/nwatch01.htm). It
includes a separate dedicated NHW
Discussion Forum and Ideas Exchange
offering advice on setting up and running a
NHW scheme.
New Toolkits have recently been
published on the site including Motor
Salvage Operators' Regulations, Section 17
and Alcohol-Related Crime. A programme
to refresh and renew all old-style Toolkits is
underway (www.crimereduction.gov.uk/
toolkits/index.htm).
For more information on the website contact
Stuart Charman Tel: 01347 825064
E-mail: stuart.charman@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
or Richard Wales Tel: 01347 825185
E-mail: richard.wales@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Crime Reduction Centre, Info. Services Team,
The Hawkhills, Easingwold, York YO61 3EG.

Good Practice Seminars 2004/2005

The second seminar in this year’s programme on "Violent Crime" was held on 15 - 16
September 2004 at Aston University, Birmingham. The programme was developed in
partnership with the Home Office Violent Crime Policy Team and contributions reflected the
4 strands of the government’s Violent Crime Strategy. Over 120 delegates attended the event,
which was chaired by John Curtis from the Government Office for the West Midlands.
The first day began with presentations and discussions on alcohol and the night-time
economy. Safer Swansea representatives provided a lively presentation on the triage centre
made available in the city during Christmas and New Year 2003. Manchester City Centre Safe
also described their work with the Licensing Trade to tackle problem drinking. A guns and
offensive weapons debate included contributions from West Midlands Police and provided an
overview of local issues. A representative from the Peace Alliance spoke passionately about the
waste of young lives due to gun crime and showed the video “Untouchable”, details of
which featured in the October Digest.
Day 2 of the seminar began with a series of presentations on domestic violence
For more information about the including:
seminars contact Dee Cooley, • The impact of domestic violence on children.
Crime Reduction Centre, • The issues facing women from black and minority ethnic communities.
Learning & Development • Developing domestic violence strategies.
Services, The Hawkhills, This was followed by a session on anti-social behaviour which looked at Manchester City
Easingwold, York YO61 3EG Council's use of anti-social behaviour legislation. Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Tel: 01347 825050 also provided a practical examination of the partnership’s use of Acceptable Behaviour
E-mail: dee.cooley@ Contracts (ABCs) with young people.
homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk A full report of the event, including presentations, is available on the Crime Reduction
or visit the Crime Reduction Website: www.crimereduction.gov.uk/gpvca00.htm
Website: The “Prolific and other Priority Offenders" seminar took place on 1 - 2 December
www.crimereduction. 2004 in Manchester and a report of this event will be available on the Crime Reduction
gov.uk/gp00.htm Website in early 2005.

4 News January 2005

 Advanced Associate Trainers Award
Over the last 2 years the Crime Reduction Centre (CRC) has trained a number of
Associate Trainers (ATs) who are licensed to deliver an introductory course on crime
reduction. Thanks to their effort and commitment, over 4000 certificates have now
been issued to Associate Trainers. In December 2004, the first group of Advanced
Associate Trainers (AATs) were trained to deliver a more comprehensive 2-day
foundation course in Crime Reduction and Community Safety. AATs all hold a
nationally recognised training qualification and the first 10 AATs also completed their
City & Guilds (7302) Certificate in Delivering Learning - An introduction'.
CRC aims to support a core of 50 standard ATs and 20 AATs throughout England
and Wales. The next event will be an Associate Trainer Conference to be held at the CRC
on 22nd - 23rd March 2005.

For more information contact Martin Fenlon, Crime Reduction Centre, Learning & Development Services,
The Hawkhills, Easingwold, York YO61 3EG Tel: 01347 825076
E-mail: martin.fenlon@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or visit the Crime Reduction Website:
www.crimereduction.gov.uk/crimereductioncentre24.htm

Community Safety Qualifications

Questionnaire
We had a very limited response to this questionnaire and can therefore only draw similarly
limited conclusions from the exercise. We thought we would share some of these with you,
so that you have the chance to respond if you have different views.
Responses came from 3 sources:
• The National Community Safety Network Conference held in summer 2004.
• Digest readers.
• Crime Reduction Website visitors.
Thanks to all those who contributed.
We asked some general background questions to determine whether the desire for
formal qualifications in professional development rested with a particular group within the
community safety sector. This does not appear clear cut and we have the added disadvantage
that the sample of respondents was not truly representative of the whole sector.
The main findings from the general questions include:
• Most respondents classed themselves as either community safety or crime reduction officers.
• Most had been working in their current role for between 1 and 3 years.
• Over half had both O and A levels and just under half (48%) had a first degree, which
may, or may not be related to community safety/crime reduction.

Highlights from responses on the types of qualifications required:

• A high proportion of respondents (16-37%) left a number of the qualification options
blank, rather than stating a preference.
• More people (45%) registered a real or medium need for short courses. If you have any comments or
• The Continuing Development Award received an even spread of responses across the questions, please contact
range of perceived needs. Gill Archibald, Crime Reduction
• 37% of respondents felt there was no need or low need for a foundation Centre, Learning &
degree/certificate in higher education.The same was true for a criminology or criminal Development Services,
justice degree, although a number of respondents did already possess a criminology degree. The Hawkhills, Easingwold,
• More respondents (37%) felt there was a real or medium need for a postgraduate York YO61 3EG
diploma in community safety/crime reduction than no need/low need Tel: 01347 825074
The results will be shared with the Skills for Justice Sector Skills Council (SJSSC) as a E-mail: Gill.Archibald@
snapshot of preferences for formal qualifications in professional development. homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

January 2005 News 5


Alternatively, you can print the
form and send it to: Jane Jones,
Crime Reduction Centre,
Information Services Team,
The Hawkhills, Easingwold,
York YO61 3EG
Tel: 01347 825095
Fax: 01347 825097
E-mail: jane.jones@
homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Ideas Exchange - 'What Are You Doing?'
The Ideas Exchange on the Crime Reduction Website (www.crimereduction.gov.uk/
cgi-bin/ iex/iex.pl) is a database of ideas and initiatives on all crime reduction topics. It is
useful for obtaining quick ideas and can be used as an information-sharing tool for
practitioners. It is also user friendly and fully searchable by crime topic and geographic area.
This information is also considered for inclusion in future copies of the Digest.
We are always interested to hear about your ideas and initiatives. If you are working on a project or
initiative, whether it is planned, ongoing or recently completed, you can submit this information via the
Crime Reduction Website on the 'What are you doing ' form at:
www.crimereduction.co.uk/cgi-bin/iex/iex.pl?action=whatrudoing

Digest Submissions Policy

The Digest allows contributors to make information available to others without loss of
ownership. Material submitted for inclusion will be formatted, edited and collated initially
by the Editor of the Digest. Articles accepted for inclusion will also be published in electronic
format on the Crime Reduction Website Ideas Exchange: www.crimereduction.gov.uk/cgi-
bin/iex/iex.pl

Information can be submitted by:

• Word document via E-mail to: jane.jones@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
• Fax to the Home Office Crime Reduction Centre, Information Services Team,
Fax: 01347 825097.
• Post to: Jane Jones, Information Services Team, Crime Reduction Centre,
The Hawkhills, Easingwold,York YO61 3EG.

Contributions should adhere to the following guidelines.

• Refer to a specific initiative, event
or publication relevant to crime
reduction/community
safety practitioners.
• Wherever possible, contain
evidence of evaluation or
cost-benefit analysis. Where a
project has not been completed,
contributions should aim to
contain some interim evaluation
and indication of any future
follow up.
• Be original ideas and material.
Duplicates of other projects/
initiatives will only be accepted if
they contain significant
differences.
• Not be “press release” copy, unless
supported by other
documentation. Press release does
not usually contain sufficient
detailed information.
• Not be announcements of local
publicity events or campaigns
unless there is some form
of evaluation or the event/
campaign is of national value.
Language and text
• Digest content should be written
for the target audience of crime
reduction practitioners.
• The use of technical terms should
be avoided. Where they are used
they must be fully explained.
• Use plain English and short
sentences.
• Make it accurate, brief
and relevant.
• Avoid acronyms by using the full
name. If an acronym recurs within
an article, give the full name and
acronym for the first occurrence
and use the acronym only for
subsequent occurrences e.g: Crime
Reduction Centre (CRC).
Pictures and Logos
Where possible, pictures or logos
should be included with articles. They
can be sent as hard copy or electroni-
cally. It is always better to send the
original image, as this will ensure
higher quality reproduction. Please try
to send the original image and not a
picture as part of a document or
presentation.
Electronic Image specification
• PC or Mac format: colour images at
least 400dpi can be .jpg,
.tiff, .bmp.
• Black & white images at least
600dpi should be .tiff or .bmp.
• Original electronic artwork can be
sent as Adobe Illustrator/
Photoshop files.
• Can be sent on disk, CD or Zip disk
or by e-mail.

6 News/Digest Submissions Policy January 2005

 I d e a s a n d I n i t i a t i ve s
Oxford’s Park & Ride System
Thames Valley Police

Oxford’s Park & Ride system is one of the UK's largest and longest established. The first car
park for 250 cars was opened in 1973 and since then new car parks have been added,
providing space for over 5,000 cars.
Six years ago, Oxford’s park & ride car parks suffered with severe crime problems,
averaging approximately 400 crimes per year. Since then, Thames Valley Police, in partnership
with Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council started a year on year
improvement scheme. In November 2002 a new car park was opened, which incorporated as
many crime prevention features as possible, including
a centrally placed public waiting room with an airport
style control room located above it to enable security
officers to have 360 degree visibility. This is backed up
by a full CCTV system and a minimum of one officer
in the control room and one on patrol at any time.
There is also a secure cabinet facility for cyclists to
store their bikes.
The principles of the Safer Parking Scheme
(formerly the Secured Car Parks Award Scheme) have
been used in each new car park and now 4 out of 5
have received this award.

For more information contact Roger Hampshire, Oxfordshire Crime Prevention Design Advisor, Thames
Valley Police, Witney Police Station, Welch Way, Witney, Oxon OX28 6JN
Tel: 01993 893875 Fax: 01993 893894

'On the Beat with Mark and Eddie' -

Wythenshawe FM
Greater Manchester Police

Wythenshawe FM is a government funded subjects such as crime scene investigation,

community radio station providing a forum drug abuse and traffic. The Crimestoppers
for music and information unavailable number is publicised and police operations
elsewhere in the region. including Magpie, Hawk and Xcalibre are
Working in partnership with the also discussed.
com munity and community groups, South
Manchester Crime Reduction Advisers were For more information contact Mark Flanagan or
often invited to give advice on the show on PC Eddie Lindsay, Greater Manchester Police
policing, domestic burglary, personal safety Divisional HQ, Crime Reduction
and vehicle crime. Due to its popularity, the Department, Elizabeth Slinger
radio station decided to dedicate an hour Road, West Didsbury,
specifically to policing issues. Manchester M20 0PT
'On the Beat with Mark and Eddie' Tel: 0161 856 6170
was launched in September 2004 and the
first show presented advice on
domestic burglary, bogus
officials and cane and hook
burglaries. A different subject
is discussed each week.
Guests from other police
departments and partner
agencies are also invited to
provide information on

January 2005 Ideas and Initiatives 7

 Forecourt Watch Scheme
West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police have set up a new Forecourt Watch Scheme in partnership with the
British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS), which is aimed at reducing 'drive off' offences at
petrol stations.
Under the new scheme, staff at petrol stations will report 'bilkings' (driving off without
paying) to the police, providing them with information on the vehicles involved. Officers are
then responsible for distributing a standard letter to the owner of the vehicle, requesting that
they pay the garage within seven days. If no payment is received within this time, the garage
then informs the police, who are able to consider prosecuting the owner for intent to steal.
Since the introduction of the scheme, local figures for this type of crime have reduced
quite significantly and it is hoped that it will be adopted force-wide in the near future.

For more information contact Det Chief Insp Tim Godwin, West Midlands Police, Operational Command
Unit, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry CV6 5DG
Tel: 0845 113 5000 Ext: 7933 6200 Fax: 02476 539139 E-mail: t.godwin@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
Website: www.west-midlands.police.uk

Super Kids - Evaluation

East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Details of the Super Kids event featured in
the October 2004 edition of the Digest.
Since the event took place, an evaluation
has been carried out based on the teacher's
questionnaires, pupil's 'thank you' letters
and participant's observations of the
project.
Super Kids took place in March last
year in partnership with the East Riding of
Yorkshire Council, “Prison Me, No Way”
Trust and the Specialist Health Promotion
Service of the Hull and East Riding Primary
Care Trusts. It was attended by nearly 5,000
pupils aged 9 - 11 years. The aim of the
event, which consisted of 11 short
workshops, was to educate children on a
range of personal safety issues, as well as
informing them about the potential risks
they are exposed to in their everyday lives.
Pupils were also made aware of the dangers
of becoming involved in criminal activity
and anti-social behaviour and were
provided with information on a wide range
of health issues, including healthy eating
and anti-smoking advice.
Following the event, teachers were
asked to complete a questionnaire. The
feedback included:
• 97% of teachers who responded
assessed the event as either excellent or
very good. All felt that pupils had
benefited from the event.
• 99% were satisfied with booking and
transport arrangements.
• All teachers felt that Super Kids linked
with the Personal, Social, Health and
Citizenship Education (PSHCE) part of
the curriculum.
• 97% of teachers believed that the event
could reduce the chances of young
people being injured or committing
a crime
• All teachers intended to attend the
event if it was available next year.
Teachers were also asked to rate the
workshops in terms of interest, content
suitability and relevance to the age group
and their overall satisfaction with the
presentation. The results of those who
responded were very positive and most felt
that the workshops were either ‘excellent’
or ‘very good.’
A copy of the full evaluation is available from
Colin Dawson, Anti-social Behaviour Team, East
Riding of Yorkshire Council, County Hall,
Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire HU17 9BA
Tel: 01482 396382 Fax: 01482 396428
E- mail: colin.dawson@eastriding.gov.uk

8 Ideas and Initiatives January 2005

 A Guide to Health and Safety in Newspaper
Delivery
West Midlands Police

When a local study revealed that with newspaper delivery and how to best
newsagents took an ad hoc approach to the avoid potential problems.
training, support, responsibilities and The guide contains:
supply of reflective equipment for young • A Guide to the Law.
people delivering newspapers, West • General Advice and Risk Assessments,
Midlands Police decided to produce a including a sample risk assessment.
Guide to Health and Safety in Newspaper • Road and Cycle Safety, including a For more information
Delivery. cycle checklist. contact Rene Evans,
Concerned about young people's • Nuisance Animals. Community Partnerships
safety, the police produced this guide to • Working Alone Officer, West Midlands Police,
provide a more consistent approach to • Manual Handling, including average Halesowen Police Station,
health and safety issues surrounding young weights of newspapers. Laurel Lane, Halesowen,
people delivering papers in the area. A • Protective Equipment and Clothing. West Midlands B63 3JA
flyer, aimed at young people, was also • Information for Parents, including a Tel: 0121 626 9234
distributed via local newsagents, which list of useful contacts. E-mail: r.evans@
outlined some of the dangers associated west-midlands.pnn. police.uk

Operation Impact
Warwickshire Police

Warwickshire Police have relaunched Operation Impact, a countywide fight against

burglary, which led to a significant reduction in domestic burglaries when it was initially
implemented in May 2000.
The aim of this initiative is to prevent repeat victimisation by offering
support, advice and reassurance to the community. Victims of burglary are given
an information pack providing details of how the burglary will be investigated by
the police and what the victim should do following the burglary, including:
• Cancelling all credit/debit cards.
• Contacting insurers.
• Property marking and recording the details.
• Replacing door and window locks.
• Possibly upgrading or improving current home security measures.

Details of support services are also available, together with advice on other aspects of
burglary prevention. Smartwater property marking kits, funded by Basic Command Units
(BCUs) and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) are included in the packs
and in 2003/04 over 1,800 premises were offered property marking kits. Handbooks are
delivered to victims' neighbours to ensure they are aware of the measures they can take to
avoid becoming victims themselves.
Other features of Operation Impact include: For more information contact
• High profile and covert police operations. Martyn Stephens, Warwickshire
• The use of intelligence to target offenders and hot spots. Police, Police Station, Vicarage
• Priority given to quicker attendance at domestic burglaries by police officers and scenes Road, Nuneaton CV11 4DW
of crime officers. Tel: 02476 641111
• Fast tracking of forensic samples to support the rapid identification and arrest of Fax: 01926 415678
offenders. E-mail: martyn.stephens@
warwickshire.pnn.police.uk
So far the initiative has proved extremely positive for both police and victims. An Website:
evaluation will be carried out in April 2005. www.warwickshire.police.uk

January 2005 Ideas and Initiatives 9

 Capture the Deal – Capture the Thieves
West Midlands Police
West Midlands Police Safer Motors Team
have launched a new campaign to
encourage people buying second-hand cars
to take a photograph of the seller before
they hand over any cash.
The campaign was set up following an
increase in the number of car buyers
conned into handing over thousands of
pounds, only to find their new car is in fact
stolen. By taking a few simple precautions,
buyers can dramatically reduce their
‘Go Easy’ Campaign
West Midlands Police
A major new awareness campaign has been
launched by West Midlands Police aimed at
reducing binge drinking and alcohol-
related crime and disorder in
Birmingham city centre.
The ‘Go Easy’ campaign is
funded by the Birmingham
Crime and Disorder Partnership
and Broad Street Steering
Group, which includes
representatives from the
Birmingham City Centre
Partnership, City Council,
Police, Licensees, Taxi
Associations and local
residents. This group
was set up in April
2004 following
concerns that Broad
Street had become
a focal point for
anti-social binge drinkers.
10 Ideas and Initiatives
chances of being deceived by car thieves:
• Ensure you visit the seller’s home –
don’t do a deal in a car park or let them
visit your home.
• Don’t pay cash – if there is a dispute
later, there is no way of tracing the
seller. Pay by banker’s draft, which will
at least leave an audit trail.
• Consider taking a photograph of the
seller standing in front of the vehicle,
ensuring the registration is clearly on
show. If people are genuine sellers,
they should have no reason to object. If
the car is then identified as stolen, it
will assist the police in tracing
the person.
For more information contact Insp Alison Barton,
Safer Motors Co-ordinator, West Midlands Police
HQ, Lloyd House, Colmore Circus,
Birmingham B4 6NQ
Tel: 0845 113 5000 Ext: 7922 6253
E-mail: a.barton@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
The campaign is part of a series of
initiatives to improve the area and is based
primarily on ideas from a focus group of
young people. The campaign intends to
highlight the possible consequences of
binge drinking among young people,
which is a growing problem facing many
towns and cities. A series of adverts
warning youngsters of the dangers they
could face if they drink excessively form
the basis of the campaign. These adverts
show how people can change during the
course of an evening's drinking session and
will feature across the city on buses, trains,
taxis and bus shelters, as well as on beer
mats and in bar washrooms.
For more information contact Jackie Harrison,
West Midlands Police HQ, Lloyd House, Colmore
Circus, Birmingham B4 6NQ
Tel: 0121 626 5197
E-mail: j.harrison@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
January 2005
 Home Safety Information Pack
Norfolk Constabulary

The Police and Fire Service have set up a joint initiative to provide crime reduction and home
safety advice to new householders.
Information packs containing a selection of leaflets offering advice on crime reduction
and fire safety have been distributed to Estate Agents and Local Authority and Housing
Association offices to distribute to home owners when they move into their new house.

For more information contact PC Pat Bailey, Crime Reduction Officer, Norfolk Constabulary, Eastern Area
Headquarters, Great Yarmouth Police Station, Howard Street North, Great Yarmouth NR30 1PH
Tel: 01493 333039 E-mail: baileype@norfolk.pnn.police.uk

‘Boro Buzz’
Safer Middlesbrough Partnership

Safer Middlesbrough Partnership set up an
initiative at the end of last year in a bid to
reduce anti-social behaviour and nuisance
during the Halloween period.
The initiative, called ‘Boro Buzz’
aimed to encourage young people off the
streets, particularly on Mischief Night and
Halloween, by providing other activities for
them to participate in. About 100 events
were held across the region, including a
football tournament, which saw young
people of all ages involved in 27 teams,
each with 7 players. There were also DJ
workshops and the chance to make an
animated film or produce a video for the
more creative youngsters, as well as judo
sessions and Halloween walks. Another
event included Dance Sensation 2004, held
at Middlesbrough Theatre and performed
with the help of the 2 Funky Dance Studio.
A total of 110 young people joined in the
dance session, which lasted two and a half
hours and was presented to a sell out
audience.
For more information contact
Terry Murphy, Crime and
Disorder Co-ordinator, Safer
Middlesbrough Partnership,
2 River Court, Brighouse Road,
Riverside Park,
Boro Buzz also included day trips, Middlesbrough TS2 1RT
details of which were included in leaflets Tel: 01642 354025
posted to 13 to 19 year olds in the area. The E-mail: terry_murphy@
leaflets were also made available at the middlesbrough.gov.uk
council’s reception points, libraries and at or visit the website:
youth and community centres. www.borobuzz.co.uk

‘Don’t be a Target’ Campaign

Greater Manchester Police

The ‘Don’t be a Target’ campaign was set up in partnership with

the police and the licensing trade following an increase in the
numbers of thefts from the person in public places where
people relax such as bars, clubs and restaurants. For more information
The ‘target’ idea for the campaign has been designed contact PC Stuart Pizzey
to show the public that it is their property that is the MBE, Crime Reduction Adviser,
target for criminals. It goes on to point out the simple Greater Manchester Police,
steps people can take to avoid becoming a victim of Bootle Street Police Station,
this particular crime. The campaign uses stickers in Manchester M2 5GU
cloakrooms, main entrances and bar areas as well as leaflets placed at Tel: 0161 856 3046
public information points. Serviettes have been used instead of beer mats to E-mail: stuart.pizzey@
highlight the message in bars and clubs. gmp.police.uk

January 2005 Ideas and Initiatives 11

 The ‘Big Screen’
Greater Manchester Police

For more information contact
PC Stuart Pizzey MBE, Crime
Reduction Adviser, Greater
Manchester Police, Bootle
Street Police Station,
Manchester M2 5GU Tel: 0161
856 3046 E-mail:
stuart.pizzey@gmp.police.uk
The ‘Big Screen’ is the latest tool in the
fight against street crime in Manchester city
centre.
The scheme was set up in partnership
with Greater Manchester Police, the BBC,
Manchester City Council, Philips and the
Triangle Shopping Centre and is sponsored
by the Royal Bank of Scotland. The Big
Screen is a 25 square metre video display
with full sound system, which is located in
Exchange Square in Manchester. Using state
of the art technology, the screen shows a
wide range of televised events including
news, sport and entertainment over 24
hours, 7 days per week.
Taking advantage of the screen and its
location, it has been used in a bid to reduce
the incidence of street crime in the city
centre by broadcasting a colourful, crime
prevention cartoon entitled, ‘It doesn’t take
a genius to stop street crime’. The cartoon
incorporates 3 messages all aimed at
reducing street crime and covering care at
cash points, keeping your mobile phone
safe and credit card safety advice.
Since broadcasting the crime
prevention messages on the screen,
statistics have shown that robbery in the
year to April 2004 is down by 18.6% and
theft from people has been reduced by
41.8%. The messages will feature on the Big
Screen for up to one year and it is hoped
that other messages will be developed in
the future.

Operation Payback
West Midlands Police

Operation Payback took place during October 2004 and involved 4 police forces; West
Midlands, West Mercia, Warwickshire and Staffordshire all working in partnership with the
British Transport Police and HM Customs and Excise. Using new powers from the Proceeds of
Crime Act 2002, officers are able to seize cash, drugs and assets if they are believed to be the
result of criminal activity.
During the campaign:
• £177,000 was retained by HM Customs and Excise officers during operations at
Birmingham and Coventry airports.
• £283,694.32 was forfeited in hearings in the West Midlands during the operation. This is
cash that has been proven to be the result of criminal activity and has to be paid back
through the courts.
• Over £36,000 in cash was retained from two vehicles stopped by Central Police
Motorway Group on Midland's motorways.
• Seven cash seizures were made in Staffordshire totalling £163,000.

Training documentation about the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and how it can be applied
to anyone who has benefited from criminal activity has been presented to every officer in the
4 Midlands police forces.
The operation proved to be a huge success and the substantial amounts of cash retained
during this operation will now be invested back into the fight against crime.

For more information contact Keiley Gartland, Press Officer, Crime Support, West Midlands Police HQ ,
Lloyd House, Colmore Circus, Birmingham B4 6NQ
Tel: 0121 626 5499 E-mail: k.gartland@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk

12 Ideas and Initiatives January 2005

 Theft from Motor Vehicles Campaign
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary have set up an initiative, funded by the Home Office, in a
bid to reduce the number of thefts from motor vehicles by increasing the public’s awareness.
The initiative targets people in hotspot areas who leave property on display in
unattended vehicles, therefore increasing the opportunity for theft from their car. Police
distribute double-sided cards containing crime reduction advice and the message ‘Avoid
Being a Victim’. Cards are completed by the officer on duty, advising of property left on For more information contact
display or thanking the vehicle user for not leaving items on display. A fold over and tear off DC Robert Bunney, Problem
section of the card provides information on useful contacts, which can be kept in a wallet or Solving and Demand
purse for future reference. Cards are enclosed in a 'Polite Notice' self-adhesive plastic wallet Reduction, Devon and Cornwall
and stuck to the driver’s side window so that they are easily visible to the owner. All vehicles Constabulary, Middlemoor HQ,
in the chosen location will receive notices so that property on display is not made obvious to Exeter EX2 7HQ
would-be criminals. Tel: 01392 452559
It is hoped that this initiative will help to reduce the number of thefts from vehicles in E-mail: robert.bunney@
the area and increase the public’s confidence in the police through heightened police devonandcornwall.
visibility. pnn.police.uk

Graffiti Watch Initiative

Devon & Cornwall Constabulary

A new group has been set up in partnership
with the police, Neighbourhood Watch
(NHW), local councils and East Devon
Safety Partnership to target graffiti artists in
Exmouth. The group aims to reduce graffiti
in the town, while informing local
residents of the role they can play to
combat this type of nuisance.
During the early part of 2004, local
Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators
began experiencing problems with graffiti
and anti-social behaviour in the area.
Working in partnership with the police,
they set up the Graffiti Watch Working
Party, which is responsible for setting up
initiatives to combat the problem of
graffiti. Some of the schemes they have
implemented include:
• The Town Management Team task their
street cleaner to tackle public areas and
street furniture affected by graffiti to
ensure that it is removed quickly and
effectively.
• Graffiti postcards have been distributed
to properties affected by graffiti,
informing the owner of their
responsibility to remove the graffiti as
quickly as possible to avoid a re-
occurrence of the problem. The
postcard can then be placed in the
window of the property to help deter
graffiti artists from re-offending.
• A graffiti poster has been designed
for prominent positions in the
area to advise property owners of
their responsibility to remove
graffiti from their property and
remind people to report
sightings of offenders.
• A ‘Clean up’ group has been
established following a
request for Neighbourhood
Watch volunteers. Group
members receive training on
how to use graffiti
removing products to
enable them to target problem areas
around the town. They concentrate
particularly on private properties,
where the owners are unable to remove
the graffiti themselves due to ill health
or financial reasons.
• A local paint supplier has agreed to
supply paint-removing products at a For more information contact
discounted cost to Neighbourhood Julia Ryder, Watch Development
Watch members. Officer, Devon & Cornwall
Constabulary, Intelligence and
The initiative received extensive Incident Management Unit
coverage in the press and as a result a local (East), Exmouth Police Station,
NHW member has donated cash, which North Street, Exmouth EX8 1JZ
will be used as a reward for anyone Tel: 01395 226120
identifying offenders that results in their or PC Andy Squires,
arrest. The NHW ‘Clean up’ group will also Neighbourhood Beat Manager,
use it to fund the removal of graffiti. Tel: 08452 777444.

January 2005 Ideas and Initiatives 13

 Crucial Crew
Safer Neath Port Talbot Partnership

For more information
contact Lisa Voisey,
Community Safety Support
Officer, Neath Port Talbot
County Borough
Council,
2nd Floor, Port
Talbot Police
Station,
Station Road,
Port Talbot SA13 1JB
Tel: 01639 889162
E-mail: l.voisey@npt.gov.uk
Crucial Crew is the annual safety event aimed at Year 6 pupils (10-11 year olds) with the
objective of delivering short, sharp messages on a number of personal safety and crime
prevention issues. It is a multi-agency event involving representatives from the police, fire
service and local authority departments. As part of last year’s event, Safer Neath Port Talbot
introduced a new concept to Crucial Crew with the inclusion of a peer education set.
Year 9 pupils from local comprehensive schools took part in the Schools Crime
Prevention Initiative 2004. The initiative has been running for over 9 years and this year's
theme focussed on binge drinking. Pupils were given information from various agencies
about binge drinking, which they had to arrange into a lesson to deliver to Year 7
pupils. The final part of the initiative involved the groups adapting the lesson into a
10-minute interactive set to present to Year 6 pupils visiting Crucial Crew.
Each comprehensive school took part in the event and groups used various
methods to deliver their messages, even though they had all started with the
same information. Formats used included quizzes, dramas and
interactive activities and many awarded prizes for correct answers
and participation.
Early feedback from primary school pupils and teachers indicates that the
concept of young people delivering this type of information to much younger children is
extremely successful. It is hoped that the peer education involvement will continue in future
Crucial Crew events.

Three Strikes Policy

Taunton Deane Borough Council

Criminals convicted of anti-social to an application for an Anti-Social

behaviour in Taunton will now be subject
to the yellow and red card system, or
‘Three Strikes and You’re Out’ rule. The
three-step system, which has been set up in
partnership with the police, local authority,
Taunton Crime Reduction Partnership and
local licensees, will deal predominantly
with drink-fuelled, late night disorder in
the town. The system operates as:
Step 1. After a first conviction for anti-
social behaviour, the police send a letter
and yellow card to the criminal, which acts
as a warning of the likely consequences
that could follow. The back of the card
features a health education message
outlining the physical and psychological
effects of alcohol abuse. The card also
provides contact details of support organi-
sations.
Step 2. Following a second conviction
within a twelve-month period, another
letter is sent, accompanied by a red card.
Offenders are again reminded of the
possible civil and criminal justice penalties
that could be served against them. They are
informed that further offending may lead
Behaviour Order (ASBO). This time the card
contains a stronger health message,
including gender specific information on
the effects of alcohol on the body and the
added risks of becoming a victim of crime.
Offenders are also notified that they are
banned from all Taunton Pub Watch
premises for 28 days. Subject to funding,
there are plans to replace this ban with a
three-hour alcohol awareness training
session.
Step 3. After a third conviction for
anti-social behaviour, offenders become
targets for an ASBO application.
If the new policy is successful in Taunton, it
is hoped to extend it to other areas, with
the possibility of adopting it as a model for
towns and cities across the country.
For more information contact Sgt Nic Crocker,
Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Taunton
Police Station, Upper High Street, Shuttern,
Taunton TA1 3QA
Tel: 01823 363112 E-mail: nic.crocker@
avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk

14 Ideas and Initiatives January 2005

 SAFER HOMES
Cheshire Police
The SAFER HOMES initiative was launched
in April last year by Sir Bobby Charlton. The
objectives of the initiative are to improve
domestic burglary investigation, provide a
high quality of service to victims, reduce
repeat victimisation and engage the whole
community in reducing offences of
burglary.
The initiative has been developed to
take into account good practice gathered
from around the country by a small team of
police officers working on behalf of the
Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)
Burglary Reduction Working Group and the
Home Office Police Standards Unit.
Examples of this good practice have been
incorporated in 'The Domestic Burglary
National Good Practice and Tactical Options
Guide' circulated to all Basic Command
Units (BCUs). The guide adopts a holistic
approach and views the investigation of
domestic burglary as a series of business
processes starting from the initial call from
the victim to the final disposal of the case
in the Criminal Justice System.
Measures include:
• Call handlers asking specific questions
of burglary victims in order to assist
the investigative process. In addition,
they provide immediate crime scene
preservation advice.
• A crime scene investigator visits all
domestic burglary scenes and a
specially trained and experienced
police officer acts immediately on the
information and evidence recovered
from the scene.
• Crime Scene Investigators speak
directly with the victim and arrange a
mutually convenient time to examine
the crime scene.
• Evidence from the crime scene is fast
tracked into the forensic process. In
this way results are available far more
quickly, leading to offenders being
identified and arrested.
• A Burglary Victim Pack is given to
householders following a crime and a
specially trained officer conducts an
assessment of the victim's home and
offers recommendations to
improve security.
January 2005
• A SAFER HOMES home security
assessment booklet is available to help
support crime reduction activity by
police crime reduction advisors and
community safety partners. In
addition, an interactive household
security survey is available on the
Cheshire Police Website
(www.cheshire.police.uk/
showcontent.php?pageid=367).
• Staff are required to comply with
minimum standards for all the business
processes and performance
is monitored.
• An important part of the initiative is
raising individual awareness on the
issues surrounding doorstep crime. By
training the Homewatch Management
Team, local co-ordinators and
members of the community
workforce i.e. home care assistants,
healthcare visitors and other
agencies dealing with older people
will be able to constantly
reinforce the key crime reduction
messages and encourage the
wider community to look out
for vulnerable neighbours.
Cheshire crime figures since
the April launch indicate domestic
burglary has reduced by 33% whilst the
detection rate stands at 26%.
The initiative will be independently
evaluated on behalf of the Police Standards
Unit by University College, Chester. The
evaluation will be completed in the autumn
of 2005.
For more information contact Detective Chief
Inspector Geoff Elvey, Cheshire Police Burglary
Co-ordinator, Constabulary HQ, Oakmere Road,
Winsford CW7 2UA
Tel: 01244 614594
E-mail: geoff.elvey@cheshire.pnn.police.uk
Ideas and Initiatives 15
 ‘Fun Day’ for Safety Issues
Safer Merthyr Tydfil

Safer Merthyr Tydfil’s Community Safety
Wardens teamed up with their partner
agencies to host a ‘fun day’ for the local
community with the aim of raising
awareness of personal safety issues.
The event included presentations
from the environmental regeneration
charity Groundwork, Communities First,
Sure and Home Start. South Wales Police
offered advice on all aspects of crime
prevention and the Fire Service were also
on hand to advise on fire safety.
The event was attended by over 400
people and was a huge success with local
residents.
For more information contact Robert
Cunningham, Community Safety Warden
Supervisor, Safer Merthyr Tydfil Community
Safety Advice Centre, 2 Talbot Square,
Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 9LP
Tel: 01685 388100
E-mail: wardens@smt.org.uk

Rochdale Case Intervention Group

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council Community Safety Unit

A network of agencies in Rochdale set up a Case Intervention Group (CIG) in May 2004,
with the aim of preventing and reducing anti-social behaviour and crime and disorder in
the area.
The group meets on a monthly basis and consists of a panel of agencies concerned with
the well being of children and young people. It includes professionals from statutory and
voluntary organisations who support children, young people and their families and intervene
where risks have been identified. Referrals are accepted from a wide range of agencies, with
the only restriction on members of the public who should report to the Anti-Social
Behaviour Team based at Rochdale Community Safety Service. Once a referral has been
accepted, an action plan is agreed and the panel proposes a date for review, which is usually
within one month. The review follows the same process as a new case. Where an action plan
has been successful, it is no longer discussed.
The panel receives 8 to 10 referrals each month and approximately 60 – 70% are
accepted.

For more information contact Kylie Thornton, Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator, Rochdale Metropolitan
Borough Council Community Safety Unit, Town Hall, Rochdale OL16 1AB Tel: 01706 864691

No Trick or Treaters, Thank You

Surrey Police

As part of Operation Safer Surrey, Surrey
Police is involved in an ongoing campaign
called 'Surrey Street Standards'.
Contributing to these standards has
been the production of a No Trick or
Treaters, Thank You sticker, which
can be fixed to the front door and
windows with the aim of deterring
unwanted visitors. More than
10,000 stickers have been circulated
to households across the county and
an evaluation of the success of the
scheme will be carried out in the future.
Early indications show that the stickers
have been an extremely valuable way of
reducing the nuisance and distress caused
by unwanted callers at the door. Work is
underway to develop the scheme for 2005.
For more information contact Julie Willson,
Senior Publicity Officer, Surrey Police HQ,
Mount Browne, Sandy Lane, Guildford GU3 1HG
Tel: 01483 482325
E-mail: 7642@surrey.pnn.police.uk

16 Ideas and Initiatives January 2005


Car Clear Scheme
Norfolk Constabulary
On 2 February 2004, Norfolk Constabulary
launched the Car Clear Scheme, which
involves representatives from the police,
fire service and local authority working in
partnership. The aim of Car Clear is to:
• reduce the number of abandoned
vehicles on the street
• reduce the number of deliberate
vehicle arsons
• improve the speed of recovery
• remove vehicles used in crime.
The scheme is funded by the
government’s anti-arson fund and is made
up of 3 recovery criteria:
• Police and Fire Service Vehicles
Scheme is used where a vehicle does
not have keeper details or road tax and
is damaged, normally by vandalism.
Under this scheme, the vehicle is
removed and destroyed within
30 minutes.
• Community Vehicles Scheme is used
where a vehicle has no keeper, or a
keeper that denies ownership, no road
tax and has markers on the Police
National Computer (PNC) for being
involved in crime. This scheme allows
the vehicle to be recovered and
destroyed in 30 minutes.
• 101 Scheme is used in joint
co-operation with the local authority.
Section 101 of the Road Traffic Act
1974, allows local authorities to
remove vehicles, which are considered
abandoned within 24-hrs. Initially the
partnership looked at the worst
effected areas for abandoned vehicles
and designated them as ‘hot spot’ areas.
Vehicles of low monetary value and
with no road tax found in any of these
areas are served a 24-hour notice for
removal. The local authority is then
responsible for removing the vehicle
the following day.
Deliberate fires cost Norfolk people over
“£3 million each year and most of these are
vehicle-related
January 2005
Pa r t n e r s h i p Wo r k i n g
Since the launch of the scheme the
partnership has recovered:
• 92 vehicles under the Police/Fire
Service Scheme.
• 32 vehicles under the Community
Vehicle Scheme.
• 327 vehicles under the 101 Scheme.
These figures do not include vehicles
recovered under the normal 7 day notice
scheme.
The public’s response to the scheme
has been extremely positive. Vehicle Arson
was reduced by 30% in the first financial
quarter of the year, compared to the same
period in 2003 and a further 50% on the
first quarter during the second period.
Deliberate fires cost Norfolk people over
£3 million each year and most of these are
vehicle-related. This scheme aims to make
the public aware that while a fire appliance
is dealing with a vehicle, they are unable to
protect another person’s property.
Each vehicle fire costs the Fire Service
approximately £880 to extinguish, plus
additional costs due to the damage to road
surfaces and contamination. The Car
Clear Scheme allows the partnership to
work together with Street Wardens,
Environmental Rangers and Borough
Engineers to tidy up the streets of Norfolk
and help combat anti-social behaviour and
crime.
For more information contact David Law, Traffic
Manager, Norfolk Constabulary, Great Yarmouth
Police Station, Eastern Area Headquarters,
Howard Street North, Great Yarmouth NR30 1PH
Tel: 01493 333126
E-mail: lawda@norfolk.pnn.police.uk
” Partnership Working 17
 Safer Swansea Partnership
South Wales Police

For more information contact
A / Insp Bryan Heard, South
Wales Police, Partnership Office,
C/O Cockett Police Station,
John Street, Cockett, Swansea
Tel: 07970 187961
E-mail: Bryan.Heard@
south-wales.pnn.police.uk
Website:
www.saferswansea.org.uk
In September last year, Dee Cooley a member of the Learning and Development Team at
the Crime Reduction Centre (CRC) visited the Safer Swansea Partnership, a group made
up of representatives from the public, private and government sectors all working
together with the aim of making the area a safer place in which to live and work.
The partnership is actively involved in informing local residents of the benefits of
becoming a member of Neighbourhood Watch and is extremely successful at
developing and targeting new campaigns, with one of the keys to their success being
good design and marketing. The group employs the services of a neighbouring print
and design company, who can translate their information into campaign materials for
distribution to the local community. Some of their most successful work has included:
• Publicity on drink spiking.
• Crime prevention booklet written in partnership with inmates from Swansea Prison.
• Innovative posters and cards of Swansea football and rugby teams offering advice to
children and young people on how to stay safe.
They have recently been involved in a group looking at the issue of distraction burglary.
Other members of the group include representatives from Age Concern, the police, utilities
and Trading Standards. Their aim is to raise awareness of distraction burglary amongst the
elderly, their family, carers and other relevant agencies.
In addition, the partnership deals with issues surrounding anti-social behaviour and
youth issues, as well as co-ordinating clean-ups in the community. They are currently
working together on a campaign looking at violent crime.

Sexual Assault Referral Centres and Crime

and Disorder Reduction Partnerships
(CDRPs) dealing with Sexual Crime
Home Office

For more information and
details of the forthcoming
funding contact
Helen Musgrove, Home Office,
Sexual Crime Reduction Team,
Violent Crime Unit,
Room 314, 50 Queen Anne's
Gate, London SW1H 9AT
Tel: 020 7273 3123
E-mail: helen.musgrove@
homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
In the coming financial year (2005-06),
the Home Office will be inviting local
partnerships of police and Primary Care
Trusts (PCTs) in all areas of the country to
apply for 'start-up' funding to assist with
the establishment of Sexual Assault Referral
Centres (SARCs).
SARCs provide a comprehensive range
of services for victims of rape and sexual
assault, which can include forensic
examination, mental and sexual health
services, emergency contraception and
assistance with completing a police report.
At their most effective, SARCs are a
partnership between the police service,
health service, and voluntary sector and can
benefit from input from other agencies
such as the Crown Prosecution Service
(CPS) and private companies.
By providing an integrated service,
SARCs are not only of benefit to victims,
but also to professionals working in these
areas, providing a high quality resource
and clearly defined set of care networks
that they can refer rape victims to.
Ultimately, better services should lead to
more reporting, recording and subse-
quently more convictions of those
offenders who commit such appalling
crimes, driving the incidence of rape and
sexual assault down.
CDRPs looking to address sexual
offending may wish to include the
development of a SARC in their
forthcoming strategies. CDRPs can play a
crucial role in the establishment and
maintenance of SARCs, helping to
broker partnerships between local police
forces, health agencies, and voluntary
organisations that could be in a position to
benefit from central funds.

18 Partnership Working January 2005

 Nuisance Vehicles
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
The government announced a crackdown
to rid Britain's streets of nuisance vehicles
recently.
Working in association with various
government agencies and the independent
national charity, Environmental Campaigns
(ENCAMS), who run the Keep Britain Tidy
campaign, this tough new approach will
see the strengthening of a range of
measures aimed at removing untaxed and
unregistered vehicles from streets and
public spaces. Local authorities will be
given greater powers to fine offenders and
the general public will be encouraged to
dispose of vehicles responsibly. The
approach coincides with the announcement
that all London boroughs will now remove
nuisance vehicles within 72 hours of a
report from a member of the public, thanks
to ‘Operation Scrap-It’, which forms part
of the government’s ‘Together’ campaign.
Over 300,000 vehicles are abandoned
nation-wide every year, encouraging crime,
anti-social behaviour and arson. A further
one million are uninsured and untaxed for
more than 3 months. With no current
keeper these are likely to be abandoned in
the future. The problem has increased
significantly in the last 5 years and is
Surrey Neighbourhood Watch Association
Surrey Police
In July 2004, the newly formed Surrey
Neighbourhood Watch Association, the
Surrey Police Authority and Surrey Police
officially signed a Service Level Agreement
committing themselves to promote and
support Neighbourhood Watch throughout
the county.
The aims of this new group include
increasing the number of households
participating in Neighbourhood Watch
Schemes and regularly updating local co-
ordinators with information on crimes
occurring in their neighbourhood. The
intention is to combat the fear of crime, by
making the public aware of the true level of
local criminality. The police and police
authority have also committed to involving
January 2005
expected to continue to worsen. The new
national strategy will:
• Give local authorities more powers to
immediately seize and destroy vehicles
causing a nuisance.
• Support local authorities to make
wider use of the powers already
available
• Make the polluter pay with increased
fees and charges to better reflect the
cost of removal and storage.
• Pay for experts to share their learning
through a new advisory service to
support local authorities in tackling
the problem.
• By 2008, cut the number of abandoned
vehicles by 25% to less than 250,000 -
half the predicted total of 500,000. For more information contact
Kristian Bentham, ENCAMS,
Investigating and removing nuisance Elizabeth House, The Pier,
vehicles currently costs local authorities across Wigan WN3 4EX
the country £26 million annually. Vehicle Tel: 01942 824778
arson costs £230 million a year to clean up. E-mail:
Failure to tax vehicles adds up to £93 million kristian.bentham@encams.org
in lost revenue. Unlicensed and uninsured or visit the website:
drivers are estimated to add £30 to every www.encams.org/
motor insurance policy. BestPractice/
ENCAMS will be working throughout vehicleamnesty.
January with over 130 councils on a campaign asp?Sub=0&Menu=0.26.
to remove unwanted vehicles for free. 15.148.150
NHW in widespread consultation and
ensuring a single point of contact for each
local area, as well as countywide.
It is hoped that by setting up this new
group, partners will show an increased
commitment to each other and help to
spread good practice in the fight against
crime, so that members of the community
will feel safer and more secure in their
everyday lives.
For more information contact Sgt Mike Jones,
Force Crime Reduction Adviser, Surrey Police HQ,
Mount Browne, Sandy Lane, Guildford GU3 1HG.
Tel: 01483 482443
E-mail: jones976@surrey.pnn.police.uk
Partnership Working 19
 Community Graffiti Murals
Southampton City Council - Outer Shirley Community Safety

Southampton City Council, local Neighbourhood Watch group and other crime reduction
partners have been working together to improve a number of subways with a reputation for
being dark and encouraging anti-social behaviour, fires and rough sleepers.
The Southampton City Council ‘Clean Team’ and local graffiti
artists got together with school children in the area to produce
colourful designs to cover the walls of two subways and make
them more appealing to members of the public. The effects of the
graffiti art designs significantly reduced the problems in the
subways. As a result, the partnership group decided to extend the
theme to a local shopping parade, where youngsters congregated
and disturbed shoppers by playing football and generally causing a
nuisance. In consultation with retailers and the young people
themselves, benches where the young people gathered, were
moved to a nearby park and goalposts placed alongside. The
retailers and youngsters were then asked to produce designs to
represent the 8 shops in the parade and 8 fine mesh security
fencing panels were ordered for the graffiti artists to paint the
designs on.
Since the completed panels were installed, complaints about
football have dramatically decreased and retailers are much
happier to open later at night without fear of anti-social
behaviour.

For more information contact Bob Reeve, Outer Shirley Community Safety Co-ordinator, Outer Shirley
Regeneration, Community Fire Safety Offices, Redbridge Fire Station, Southampton SO16 4GZ
Tel: 02380 529 357 Fax: 02380 776 565 E-mail: bob.reeve@southampton.gov.uk

Tackling Mobile Phone Theft

Afan Tawe Nedd Crime Prevention Panel and Safer Neath Port Talbot Partnership

The Afan Tawe Nedd Crime Prevention
Panel and Safer Neath Port Talbot
Partnership have implemented an initiative
to tackle the problem of mobile phone
theft.
Over the last few years there has been
an increasing number of mobile phone
thefts in the area, many of which have
involved violent behaviour. Those most at
risk are 12 to 16 year olds and the problem
is increased because many young people
are not aware that they are at risk and so are
less likely to take safety advice from the
‘older generation’.
The partnership developed the
initiative using the peer education method
of passing on knowledge and advice to
vulnerable groups. During the spring and
summer terms last year, each school held a
lunchtime post-coding session, where
pupils could have their phones security
marked by the Junior Crime Prevention
Team, who were also responsible for
advertising the initiative within the school.
The events were supported and supervised
by the Afan Tawe Nedd Crime Prevention
Panel, who paid for the mobile phone
security stickers, the police and the
community safety team.
A total of 2,500 mobile phones were
security marked and information and
advice was given to every mobile phone
owner. The events proved very popular,
with an excellent turn out at every school
and some schools requiring a repeat visit.
For more information contact Sian Morris,
Community Safety Project Officer, Neath-Port
Talbot County Borough Council, 2nd Floor,
Port Talbot Police Station, Station Road,
Port Talbot SA13 1JB
Tel: 01639 899161 E-mail: s.morris@npt.gov.uk

20 Partnership Working January 2005

 Operation Cascade
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Operation Cascade consists of a specially
designed training course for groups
and individuals including special
constables, tenants associations, residents
groups, Crime Prevention Panels and
Neighbourhood Watch members. The
course introduces volunteers to the basic
principles of domestic surveying. It
encourages them to work in partnership
with the Police and Fire and Rescue Service
to reduce the opportunity for house
burglaries and injury as a result of
domestic fires.
The course has been designed around a
computer based training programme and is
broken down into three separate modules,
delivered over three sessions. On
completion, delegates will be able to:
• Survey a domestic property.
• Identify potential security risks.
• Make recommendations to reduce
the risks.
• Understand the balance between
security and safety.
Domestic Violence Campaign
Communities First Domestic Violence Partnership
The Communities First Domestic Violence
Partnership is made up of organisations,
groups and individuals with a common
interest in developing quality support
services for adults, children and young
people who have witnessed, experienced or
who are currently witnessing or experi-
encing domestic violence. The partnership
has recently been involved in raising
awareness of domestic abuse using a series
of promotional days in the area. These
events include distributing white ribbon
pins and balloon days, where large
numbers of white or red balloons are
released to generate publicity for the
campaign.
Because victims of domestic abuse can
be a hard to reach group within
communities, the partnership have incor-
porated an extensive beer mat campaign in
an effort to reach all sections of the
community. The beer mats, which have
January 2005
• Understand their roles and
responsibilities when surveying.
• Understand how their home surveys fit
into the wider
picture (of any
local initiatives).
Trained volunteers
distribute leaflets to
previously identified
locations offering to
carry out a domestic
survey. The leaflets
explain that volunteers
will attend in pairs at a mutually agreed
time to provide advice on crime prevention
and home safety measures. Householders For more information contact
are asked to contact the volunteers PC Linda Duncan, Crime
via a specific number to arrange an Reduction Officer, Safe
appointment. Communities East Riding,
The Home Office Crime Reduction County Hall, Beverley HU17 9BA
Centre has licensed this course and upon Tel: 01482 396384
completion, a certificate is awarded to each E-mail: Linda.Duncan@
delegate. eastriding.gov.uk
been distributed to public houses, social
and sporting clubs, include useful contacts
for advice and support for anyone suffering
from domestic abuse. The partnership also
arranged a number of daytime self-defence
classes for vulnerable females in local
community centres across the county
borough.
Communities First are currently
putting together an awareness raising video
on domestic abuse, which will be available
later this year.
For more information contact Bethan Walilay,
Communities First Domestic Violence
Co-ordinator, Neath Port Talbot County Borough
Council, 2nd Floor, Port Talbot Police Station,
Station Road, Port Talbot SA13 1JB
Tel: 01639 889126.
Partnership Working 21
 Promoting Home Security
Metropolitan Police

For more information contact
Paul Anstee, Metropolitan
Police, Safer Neighbourhoods
Unit, 7 Soho Square,
London W1D 3QB
Tel: 020 7297 8527
E-mail:
paul.anstee@met.police.uk
Publications
& Publicity
The latest British Crime Survey statistics show that people with minimal home security face a
12% risk of being burgled, whereas those with extra security is 1.2% and those with high
levels of security is 0.7%. With this in mind, the Metropolitan Police have set up a project to
provide crime prevention demonstrations at local B&Q Do-It-Yourself (DIY) stores in the
London area.
B&Q has a social responsibility policy, which includes obtaining timber from well
managed sources, cleaning up public areas around their stores, funding professional inter-
vention as a result of drugs misuse and providing skills training for young people at risk of
committing crime. This initiative involves:
• Hosting crime prevention demonstrations for the public and local agencies in purpose-
built in-store demonstration areas, involving B&Q carpenters/electricians and the local
crime prevention officer.
• Improving the quality, range and marketing of their crime prevention products.
Presentations last for approximately one hour and are adaptable depending on the area of
crime to be addressed, although they all include:
• An introduction and welcome from the store manager.
• Crime prevention officer’s presentation, providing information on local crime patterns
and home and personal safety.
• B&Q demonstration on how to fit a selection of items such as spy holes, door chains and
locks.
• Question and answer session and close.
• Refreshments and networking.
The demonstrations have been evaluated by B&Q and feedback is extremely positive from
all who attended. Specific feedback has been captured on the learning achieved and what the
attendees were going to do personally or collaboratively after the event to improve home
security/personal safety. B&Q have added crime prevention to their social responsibility,
5 year community regeneration strategy and are committed to driving forward this agenda.

Rural Racism
Edited by Neil Chakraborti and Jon Garland

This book addresses the frequently within environments typically unfamiliar

overlooked issue of rural racism and
provides a comprehensive overview of what
is a multi-faceted and under-researched
problem.
It aims to provide new insights on
issues that are only now receiving
recognition at national and local level. It
seeks to conceptualise rurality and the way
in which the experiences of 'others' fit
within the broader rural context. It
examines the different forms that racism
can take in the countryside and charts the
particular dynamics of racism and rurality.
The book also highlights the importance of
developing sustainable responses to the
problem of rural racism and discusses ways
in which prejudice can be challenged
with 'difference'.
This publication will be of particular
interest to academics, students and practi-
tioners with an interest in discussions
surrounding racism, rurality, identity and
community.
Copies of this book, published in October 2004
and priced £30.00 (hardback) can be
obtained from Willan Publishing, Culmcott
House, Mill Street, Uffculme, Cullompton,
Devon EX15 3AT
Tel: 01884 840337 Fax: 01884 840251
E-mail: info@willanpublishing.co.uk
or visit their website:
www.willanpublishing.co.uk

22 Partnership Working/Publications & Publicity January 2005

 Beacon Learning Exchange Event
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is one experiences of setting up, running and

of only 9 councils to be awarded Beacon
Status for their Crime and Disorder
Reduction Partnership (CDRP).
The council is hosting a Learning
Exchange Event on Tuesday 1st February
2005 at the Oakwood Centre in Stockton.
The event will concentrate on Stockton’s
best practice and will demonstrate their
unique approach to operations such as
tackling anti-social behaviour. It will focus
on consultation and operational support
and will include a tour of the local area,
together with the opportunity to attend a
choice of 4 workshops including:
• Community wardens workshop, which
will focus on the key themes and
evaluating community wardens. It will
take delegates through a day in the life
of a warden and provide ideas to help
establish similar schemes elsewhere.
• Working practice workshop, which
will focus on joint working and
demonstrate the Safer Stockton
Partnership’s approach to delivering
and monitoring a comprehensive
community safety plan.
• Anti-social behaviour workshop, which
will be facilitated by the crime and
disorder manager and look at the
council’s approach to tackling anti-
social behaviour based on prevention, For more information and to
support and enforcement. book a place contact
• Consultation – engaging and Debbie Coulson, Beacon
empowering communities to tackle Co-ordinator, Stockton-on-Tees
crime workshop, which will Borough Council, The Security
demonstrate the Council’s interactive Centre, The Square,
website (www.stockton.gov.uk) that Stockton-on-Tees TS18 1TE
enables the public to view the work of Tel: 01642 528434
the council and register any complaints Fax: 01642 415590
they may have. E-mail: debbie.coulson@
stockton.gov.uk

Reclaiming the Streets: Surveillance,

social control and the city
Edited by Roy Coleman

This book, published by Willan Publishing, considers the use of CCTV as much
more than a crime prevention tool. It looks at the key agencies involved in
surveillance and in doing so, redefines the legitimate uses of the city streets.
Taking a wider view, this publication explores the use of CCTV cities. It uses
Liverpool city centre as a case study and investigates the area’s main influential
authorities. It discusses partnership working and the key agencies' attempts to
provide order and control on the city’s streets. The book also raises questions about
organisations with particular interest in CCTV and looks at how these organisations
promote their vision of law and order on the streets, define crime and disorder and
how they selectively control the risks.
The book reflects on the relations between state, power and surveillance and
considers concerns about the role of CCTV in tracking and punishing offenders such as
street traders, the homeless and youths. By looking at the most influential organisations,
the book exposes the argument of the notional friendly ‘eye in the sky’ and the
motivations behind current political attempts aimed at reclaiming the streets.

Copies of this book, published in October 2004 and priced £30.00 (hardback) can be obtained from
Willan Publishing, Culmcott House, Mill Street, Uffculme, Cullompton, Devon EX15 3AT
Tel: 01884 840337 Fax: 01884 840251 E-mail: info@willanpublishing.co.uk
or visit their website: www.willanpublishing.co.uk

January 2005 Publications & Publicity 23

 Drugs and Crime: Second edition
Edited by Philip Bean

Copies of this book, published
in September 2004 and priced
£17.99 (paperback) can
be obtained from Willan
Publishing, Culmcott House,
Mill Street, Uffculme,
Cullompton, Devon EX15 3AT
Tel: 01884 840337
Fax: 01884 840251
E-mail:
info@willanpublishing.co.uk
or visit their website:
www.willanpublishing.co.uk
Many crimes committed in Britain are
drugs-related and many offenders report
drug use prior to being charged with an
offence. However, the direct link between
drug use and crime is often less clear
because many of these offenders would
have committed offences anyway. These
offences need to be separated from those
that are directly caused by drugs.
This publication, originally published
by Willan Publishing in 2001, expands and
builds on the strengths of the first edition.
It extends its coverage to Scotland and
Ireland and includes a new chapter on the
theoretical debates surrounding drugs and
crime.
A range of issues associated with drug-
related crimes are discussed in the book,
providing an authoritative and straight-
forward introduction to the subject. It
looks at drug markets, violence within
those markets, policing and the use of
coercive treatment through the criminal
justice system. It also covers gender issues,
including the treatment of women drug
users. A key focus of the book is the
importance of reducing the supply of drugs
locally, nationally and internationally.

Sustainable Solutions to Anti-social

Behaviour: Local Government’s joined-up
approaches to tackling anti-social
behaviour
Local Government Association

Anti-social behaviour incorporates a broad range of disorder, from threatening behaviour

Copies of this paper, published
in October 2004 can be
obtained free of charge from
the Local Government
Association, LGConnect, Local
Government House, Smith
Square, London SW1P 3HZ
Tel: 020 7664 3131
Fax: 020 7664 3030
E-mail: info@lga.gov.uk or visit
their website:
www.lga.gov.uk/home.asp
and petty crime to graffiti and neighbour disputes. The Local Government Association (LGA)
supports appropriate enforcement to deal with anti-social behaviour, but also argues that the
greatest change will occur when efforts are focussed on both prevention and rehabilitation as
well.
This paper discusses the complex nature of many anti-social behaviour cases to illustrate
the need for a balanced approach to tackling the issues. It provides examples of local
authorities’ work, often in partnership with other organisations.
Research carried out by the LGA has shown that anti-social behaviour is one of the top
community safety issues faced by local authorities. Available data and statistics are inclined to
support this as a priority. For example:
• The British Crime Survey (BCS) 2002/03 reported that about one in three people
perceived some form of anti-social behaviour to be a problem in their area. One in five
reported ‘high levels’ of anti-social behaviour although by 2003/04 this had dropped to
one in six.
• The proportion in the BCS citing rubbish and litter as a problem in their area rose from
26% to 29% over the same period, peaking in 2002/03 at 33%.
• Around 250,000 neighbour disputes are reported each year to local authority housing
and environmental health service departments in England and Wales.
• Anti-social behaviour was perceived by residents to be twice as high in deprived areas
than nationally.
• Since 1996, the proportion of people in the BCS reporting vandalism, graffiti and other
acts of property damage as a ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ big problem has increased from 24% to
28% in 2003/04.

24 Publications & Publicity January 2005

 Facilitating community involvement:
practical guidance for practitioners and
policy makers
Home Office Development and Practice Report 27

This paper is based on a systematic review of ‘what works’ in community involvement in area-
based initiatives (ABIs) (See Home Office On-line Report 53/04). The paper aims to provide
practical guidance for practitioners and policy makers on how best to facilitate effective
community engagement and draws primarily on findings from the main review.
Twenty-six experiential studies and 8 reviews were included in the systematic review. The
results show that, although there are no simple and straightforward ways to increase community
involvement, it is important to consider the local context for each initiative (e.g. previous history
and patterns of community involvement, the characteristics of people targeted for involvement
and controversial issues in the area such as a threat to a service).
The impact of community engagement on ABIs was not clear, but evidence suggests that it
has a more positive than negative effect on improving public services and strategies, personal and
community development and the sense of inclusion, self-respect and self-esteem among the
members of the local community.
Although the effect community involvement had on ABIs is not obvious, there was some Copies of this report, published
general consensus on what worked including: in October 2004 are available
• Identifying local circumstances that may present barriers to effective community free of charge from the
involvement (e.g. lack of transport infrastructure) and acting on these. Research Development and
• Acknowledging the diversity of local communities and developing both targeted and Statistics Directorate (RDS),
universal strategies to reach all members of the local community including traditionally Communications Development
'hard to reach' groups such as women, young people, people with a disability and Unit, Room 264, 50 Queen
members of minority ethnic groups. Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9AT
• Publicising and raising the awareness of the initiative among all members of the Tel: 020 7273 2084
local community. Fax: 020 7222 0211
• Involving local residents in the management of the project. E-mail: publications.rds@
• Providing a variety of opportunities for training and support for local people homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
and professionals. Copies can also be viewed and
• Using regular evaluation of the initiative as a tool to identify barriers to community downloaded from the Home
involvement and actions to address these. Office Website:
• Establishing effective ways of partnership working between statutory and non-statutory www.homeoffice.gov.uk/
agencies and the local community. rds/pdfs04/dpr27.pdf

CCTV and Policing: Public Area

Surveillance and Police Practices in Britain
Edited by Benjamin J Goold

This book looks at how the police in Britain
first became involved in public area surveil-
lance and how they have attempted to use
CCTV technology to prevent, respond to
and investigate crimes.
The book examines the ways in which
CCTV cameras are used by the police and
their partner agencies and describes the
impact that CCTV has had on police
practices. It considers the factors that affect
the use of CCTV and explores the
relationship between public surveillance,
policing and social control. It also
considers how the development of
surveillance technologies like CCTV might
shape policing over the coming century.
Copies of this book, published in February 2004
and priced £50.00 (hardback) can be
obtained from Oxford University Press,
FREEPOST NH 4051, Corby,
Northants NN18 9BR
Tel: 01536 741727 Fax: 01536 746337
E-mail: bookorders.uk@oup.com
or visit their website: www.oup.co.uk

January 2005 Publications & Publicity 25

 Problem-Oriented Policing: From
Innovation to Mainstream
Crime Prevention Studies Volume 15
Edited by Johannes Knutsson in consultation with Ronald V Clarke
Crime Prevention Studies is an interna-
tional series of publications dedicated to
research on situational crime prevention
and other initiatives involved in reducing
the opportunities for crime.
This book addresses the theories and
practices of problem-oriented policing
(POP), an approach that moves away from
incident-driven policing to a more
proactive and preventive process. It
explores why problem-oriented policing
interventions have been shown to be
effective and places special emphasis on
addressing the obstacles that have been
identified in implementing them
successfully. The book also considers what
needs to be done to improve the number
and quality of problem-oriented policing
projects and includes key contributors to
the field from the UK, USA and Europe.
Other topics discussed include:
• Police managers and line officer's
openness to problem-oriented
policing.
• The willingness and capacity of police
organisations to make necessary
changes.
Policing Drugs on the streets of Europe
Conference
Centre for Public Innovation/Home Office
A unique conference on neighbourhood
drug enforcement will be held in Barcelona
on 16 – 18 February 2005.
This international conference,
organised by the Centre for Public
For general information about Innovation in association with the Home
attending the conference Office, provides the first ever opportunity
contact Det Insp Ian Robinson, for law enforcement officers throughout
Home Office Drug Strategy Europe to meet and exchange ideas and
Directorate, Room 245, strategies for tackling the problem of
50 Queen Anne's Gate, street-level drug supply. The programme for
London SW1H 9AT the event includes speakers from the UK,
Tel: 020 7273 3727 Netherlands, Sweden and Spain and a series
E-mail: ian.robinson@ of practical workshops where delegates
homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk can:
26 Publications & Publicity
• The in-house expertise of police in
crime analysis.
• Support from academia and the
research community in supporting
good practice.
• The need for police to be aware of
concepts from situational crime
prevention and environmental
criminology.
• Experience in implementing other
evidence based strategies like repeat
victimisation.
• The expectations of the wider
community about the police role and
function.
Copies of this book, published in April 2004 and
priced £27.50 (paperback) £40.00 (hardback)
can be obtained from Willan Publishing,
Culmcott House, Mill Street, Uffculme,
Cullompton, Devon EX15 3AT
Tel: 01884 840337 Fax: 01884 840251
E-mail: info@willanpublishing.co.uk
or visit their website:
www.willanpublishing.co.uk
• Hear speakers outline major initiatives.
• Learn about innovative methods of
enforcement activity at workshops.
• Meet colleagues working in similar
fields and develop networks to improve
and share good ideas and
good practice.
• Stay in touch afterwards through web-
based forums.
For information on costs and to book a place
contact the Trident Business Centre,
89 Bickersteth Road, London SW17 9SH Tel: 020
8767 7264 E-mail: book@policingdrugs.com
or visit the website:
www.policingdrugs.com
January 2005
 Tackling Drugs Supply Conference and
Awards
Home Office

The Home Office will host the third annual
conference aimed at tackling drugs supply
on 14 – 15 March 2005 in Cardiff.
The conference seeks to identify,
promote and recognise best practice among
police forces in tackling drugs supply and
covers a varied programme addressing
topical issues that influence and affect
supply disruption.
For more information on costs and to book a
place contact Calder Conferences, Woodside
Court, Clayton Wood Rise, Leeds LS16 6RF
Tel: 0870 382 2277 Fax: 0870 382 2278
Email: tacklingdrugs2005@caldercon.co.uk
or visit the website:
www.calderconferences.co.uk/
tacklingdrugs_policeawards.asp

Fear and Fashion: The use of knives and

other weapons by young people
Lemos & Crane supported by Bridge House Trust

This report, commissioned by the Bridge House Trust, London's biggest grant-giving charity,
seeks to establish clearer evidence about the use of knives and weapons by young people, as
well as identifying approaches currently being taken to deal with the problem. It draws on an
extensive literature review, an e-survey of schools, community and voluntary
groups working with young people in London and discussions with Corporation
of London stakeholders and invited practitioners.
Peer influences,
Part 1 sets out the available research and views of practitioners about the
extent and reasons why young people carry knives and other weapons. The second
part deals with some of the approaches currently being used and the last section
summarises the findings and suggests the key elements of a programme to address
“
group identity and
the problem. fashion also seems
The main findings suggest that the extent of carrying knives and other
weapons among young people appears to be growing. This affects 11 to 16 year to play a part in
olds, as well as those between 16 and 25 although the likelihood of knives being
used is greater in the older age group. Young people carry knives in school, youth encouraging young
clubs and on the street. Although boys are more likely to carry knives than girls
there is also a problem among girls. Young people who have been excluded from people to carry
school are the most likely to carry and use knives and other weapons, as well as
knives...
commit other offences. Fear is the most common reason given by young people,
youth workers and teachers for carrying knives. Peer influences, group identity
and fashion also seems to play a part in encouraging young people to carry knives.
A lack of support from parents, schools and youth community services also
”
increases the likelihood of offending generally.
Drawing on the literature and this research, key priorities for action are:
• Developing local demonstrations, programmes and activities.
• Developing good practice materials for schools, youth clubs, youth offending teams and
the police.
• Promoting and disseminating good practice materials and examples.

The report, published in October 2004 can be viewed and downloaded via the website:
www.bridgehousegrants.org.uk/docs/Fear_and_Fashion.pdf or contact the Bridge House
Trust, Corporation of London, PO Box 270, Guildhall, London EC2P 2EJ
Tel: 020 7332 3710 Fax: 020 7332 3720 E-mail: bridgehousetrust@corpoflondon.gov.uk

January 2005 Publications & Publicity 27


Copies of the White Paper,
published in November 2004
and priced £20.75 can be
obtained from the Stationery
Office (TSO), Mandela Way,
London SE1 5SS
Tel: Tel: 0870 600 5522
Fax: 0870 600 5533
E-mail:
customer.services@tso.co.uk
The document can also be
viewed and downloaded via
the website:
www.policereform.gov.uk
/docs/prwp2004.html
(please be aware that this is a
large file and may take some
time to download).
28 Publications & Publicity
What works in community involvement in
area-based initiatives? A systematic
review of the literature
Home Office On-line Report 53/04
This report was commissioned by the Home Office to support Civil Renewal. Increasing
community involvement is seen as key to this agenda, which seeks to put active citizens at
the heart of tackling social problems.
The report is the product of a systematic review of research evidence on the effectiveness
of community involvement in Area Based Initiatives (ABIs). The studies reviewed in the
report provide partial and mixed answers to the questions that arise when considering what
works in community involvement in ABIs. Essential factors to consider for future research
include:
• Research expertise in evaluation and in social and democratic theory.
• Development of a set of hypotheses for testing about the purpose and effects of
community involvement.
• Careful design of a set of case studies with common research instruments used to
explore qualitative aspects of ABIs.
• Collection of data on impacts in case studies to include identifiable instrumental effects
as well as developmental and ‘due process’ effects of involvement.
• Use of a detailed survey instrument to collect data for a representative sample of
the population.
Copies of this report, published in October 2004 are available via the Home Office Website only:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/rdsolr5304.pdf Application for reproduction of this
report should be made to the Research, Development and Statistics Directorate, Communications
Development Unit, Room 264, 50 Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9AT
Tel: 020 7273 2084 Fax: 020 7222 0211 E-mail: publications.rds@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Building Communities, Beating Crime: A
better police service for the 21st Century
Home Office
The government has published a White Paper on police reform entitled ‘Building
Communities, Beating Crime’, which sets out its vision for continued improvements in
policing in order to build safety, security and stability in our communities.
Proposals include:
• A review of the partnership provisions in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, to make
partnerships more effective and truly accountable, with local authorities playing an
increased role both as partners and scrutinisers.
• New powers for police community support officers (PCSOs).
• National standards for the recruitment, pay and training of PCSOs and the development
of a minimum set of powers for all PCSOs.
• Local policing plans to incorporate priorities identified by Crime and Disorder
Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs).
• A dedicated policing team for each neighbourhood.
• A 10-point customer service charter for each police force.
• Electable police authorities.
• A new national 3-digit non-emergency telephone number.
January 2005
 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act
Home Office
The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims
Bill, published on 2nd December 2003
received Royal Assent on 15th November
2004.
The Act is the biggest overhaul of
domestic violence legislation for thirty years
and heralds tough new powers for the police
and the courts to tackle offenders, while
ensuring victims get the support and
protection they need.
For the first time, a statutory code of
practice provides a range of rights to victims
together with the establishment of an
independent Commissioner. The Act will
ensure more offenders pay towards
supporting victims. The Criminal Injuries
Compensation Authority will be able to
recover money from offenders and a
surcharge will be placed on criminal
convictions and fixed penalty notices, which
will contribute to the Victims Fund. For
motoring offenders the surcharge will only
apply to the most serious and persistent
offenders. The Act also creates a new offence
of causing or allowing the death of a child or
vulnerable adult. This will help to ensure that
offenders who remain silent or blame each
other do not escape justice.
Key provisions in the Act include:
• Making common assault an arrestable
offence.
• Significant new police powers to deal
with domestic violence including making
it an arrestable, criminal offence
to breach a non-molestation order,
punishable by up to five years in prison.
• Strengthening the civil law on domestic
violence to ensure cohabiting same-sex
couples have the same access to non-
molestation and occupation orders as
opposite sex couples, and extending the
availability of these orders to couples
who have never lived together or
been married.
• Stronger legal protection for victims of
domestic violence by enabling courts
to impose restraining orders when
sentencing for any offence. Until now,
such orders could only be imposed on
offenders convicted of harassment or
causing fear of violence.
• Enabling courts to impose restraining
orders on acquittal for any offence (or if
January 2005
a conviction has been overturned on
appeal) if they consider it necessary to
protect the victim from harassment.This
will deal with cases where the conviction
has failed but it is still clear from the
evidence that the victims need protecting.
• Putting in place a system to review
domestic violence homicide incidents,
drawing in the key agencies, to find out
what can be done to put the system right
and prevent future deaths.
• Providing a code of practice, binding on
all criminal justice agencies, so that all
victims receive the support, protection,
information and advice they need.
• Allowing victims to take their case to the
Parliamentary Ombudsman if they feel
the code has not been adhered to by the
criminal justice agencies.
• Setting up an independent Commissioner
for Victims to give victims a powerful
voice at the heart of government and to
safeguard and promote the interests of
victims and witnesses, encouraging the
spread of good practice and reviewing
the statutory code.
• Giving victims of mentally disordered
offenders the same rights to information
as other victims of serious violent and
sexual offences.
• Giving the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Authority the right to
recover from offenders the money it has
paid to their victims in compensation.
• A surcharge to be payable on criminal
convictions and fixed penalty notices,
which will contribute to the Victims
Fund. For motoring offenders the Copies of the Act can be
surcharge will only apply to serious and obtained priced £10.50 from
persistent offenders. The Stationery Office (TSO),
• Closing a legal loophole by creating a Mandela Way, London SE1 5SS
new offence of causing or allowing the Tel: 0870 600 5522
death of a child or vulnerable adult.The Fax: 0870 600 5533
offence establishes a new criminal E-mail: customer.services@
responsibility for members of a tso.co.uk
household where they know that a child
or vulnerable adult is at significant risk of Copies can also be viewed and
serious harm. downloaded via the website:
• Bringing in the Law Commission www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/
recommendation for a two-stage court acts2004/20040028.htm
trial to ensure that high volume crimes (please be aware that this is a
like fraud and Internet child pornography large file and may take some
can be punished in full. time to download).
Publications & Publicity 29
 Drugs Use and Begging: A Practice Guide
NACRO and Home Office Drugs Strategy Directorate

Copies of this report, published
in September 2004 are
available free of charge from
Prolog UK
Tel: 0870 241 4680
Fax: 0870 241 4786
E-mail:
homeoffice@prolog.uk.com
Copies can also be viewed and
downloaded via the website:
www.drugs.gov.uk/
ReportsandPublications/
Communities/
1099306326/
H10020_
HomeOfficeReport.pdf
This guide was written to support the
development of services that are successful
in attracting, engaging and sustaining
contact with drug users who beg as part of
a wider strategy. Many of those who beg
and use drugs do not make full use of the
support services available to them.
The public has a right to feel safe in
their communities. The guide suggests that
by educating them about the link between
drug use and begging and the alternatives
to giving money, as well as offering
pathways that provide ways out of begging,
the needs of both the public and those who
beg to support drug use will be met.
Begging is a criminal offence. It proposes
that begging should be tackled through
effective enforcement to reassure the public
that it will not be accepted in any
community. Some of the ways to tackle
begging and its connection with drugs
include:
• Understanding the situation - why
people beg and the effects it has
on communities.
• Effective partnership working -
reducing drug-related begging will be
more effective if relevant organisations
and personnel work together.
• Dedicated staff roles - specialist staff
from many different agencies may need
to be given a dedicated brief to work
on this issue.
• Flexible services - all services that
cater for drug users who beg must take
on a flexible approach.
• Reaching out to the client group -
agencies need to take services directly
to the drug users who beg by either
sending teams onto the streets or into
facilities already well used by
drug users.
• Motivation to change - contact with
outreach workers can be a catalyst for
change, but motivation may also need
the use or threat of enforcement.
• Data and information - a database for
tracking drug users who beg, along
with effective structures for workers to
exchange information may need to be
put in place.
The guide is aimed at those who
commission services for people with drug
problems, those who beg and those
working with them. It will be useful to
Drug Action Teams (DATs), Criminal Justice
Integrated Partnerships, Crime and
Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs),
drug services, local authorities and the
police.

National ‘Market Place’ Event

West Yorkshire Police

Following the success of previous events, West Yorkshire Police is hosting their National
‘Market Place’ event on Thursday 3rd February 2005 at West Yorkshire Police Training
School in Wakefield.
The aim of this year’s event is to provide a national forum for sharing good practice in
the field of crime reduction and community engagement. Delegates are given the
opportunity to provide short presentations (approximately 15 minutes) on an initiative that
they have been directly involved in. To ensure that attendees get the most from the day,
presentations should fit in with the theme of crime reduction and/or community
engagement. The success of previous events has been attributed to the diversity of topics
presented and the support from around the UK in delivering these presentations. Please be
aware that places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and there is no
obligation for attendees to deliver a presentation.

For more information contact Alex Fox, Project Officer, HQ Community Safety, PO Box 9, Laburnum Road,
Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 3QP
Tel: 01924 292386 Fax: 01924 292595 E-mail: af406@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

30 Publications & Publicity January 2005

 Drug Misuse 2004: Reducing the
local impact
Audit Commission

The Audit Commission produced the report ‘Changing Habits’ in 2002, which recommended
wider and more flexible community-based drug treatment services for adults. Since then,
there has been a great deal of progress, with local commitment backed by national strategies
and programmes and funding having an impact. The capacity of local drug treatment services
has grown. Local agencies are working more effectively in partnership and services are more
integrated. As a consequence, waiting times are down and 20% more users are now starting
treatment. There is also a national programme specifically aimed at getting offenders into
treatment.
This report, published in November 2004, recognises this progress and makes recom-
mendations for local agencies and government to:
• improve the focus on the drug user and carer
• provide ‘follow-on’ services to enable drug users to complete the recovery journey
• reduce reliance on short-term funding streams, encouraging mainstream solutions
• develop strategic regulation. Copies of this report are
available free of charge from
The report is aimed at decision-makers in local authorities, education services, English the Audit Commission,
Primary Care Trusts (PCTs)/Welsh Local Health Boards (LHBs), police, probation and prison Publications Department,
services. It looks beyond community treatment to determine how well the national drug PO Box 99, Wetherby LS23 7JA
strategy is being delivered locally. The report traces 2 improvement journeys, which are Tel: 0800 502030
illustrated using fictional stories. The first, for individuals, follows a path from problematic Fax: 0870 121 4217
drug use towards a stable life that is safe for the individual people nearby. The second, for E-mail: audit-publications@
local agencies working in partnership, brings together people from different organisations twoten.press.net
and varying perspectives to reach a shared goal. Both paths include 3 key stages: Copies can also be viewed and
• recognising the problem downloaded via the website:
• finding the right route www.audit-commission.
• maintaining progress. gov.uk/reports/index.asp

Secured by Design Innovation Awards

ACPO CPI Ltd

The 2004 National Architectural Liaison Officer (ALO)/Crime Prevention Design Advisers
(CPDA) Conference has been confirmed a great success according to delegates.
Over 200 crime prevention professionals attended the event, which was held in
November last year. Seminars were presented on a range of topics including the Office of the
Deputy Prime Minister's 'Safer Places' guide, Secured by Design (SBD) and Planning Authority
Strategy, Creating Safer and Sustainable Communities and Forward Planning on Terrorism.
Various companies who produce SBD licensed products exhibited at the event, which also
allowed delegates the opportunity to discuss relevant issues with security professionals.
In appreciation of the high standard of entries from last years competition, ACPO CPI Ltd
has announced the second annual '£20,000 Secured by Design Innovation Awards' to reward For more information on the
the most innovative and effective ways of promoting and developing the Secured by Design competition rules and how to
project. Prizes totalling £20,000 will be awarded to the best entries, which can cover any enter contact ACPO CPI Ltd,
aspect of the SBD project. Winners will be those whose projects best support the SBD concept 7th Floor, 25 Victoria Street,
through innovation, effective development or successful promotion. The award will be paid London SW1H 0EX.
to the parent force of the winners, for the sole use of developing secured by design-related Tel: 020 7227 3423
activity. Fax: 0207 227 3400/01
This competition is open to Architectural Liaison Officers (ALOs), Crime Prevention E-mail: acpocpi@
Design Advisers (CPDAs) and serving members of UK police forces. Entries must be acpo.pnn.police.uk
supported by a Chief Officer or head of department. The closing date for the competition is or visit the website:
30th September 2005. www.securedbydesign.com

January 2005 Publications & Publicity 31

 Secured by Design Bi-Monthly Newsletter
ACPO CPI Ltd

SbD Focus is the newsletter produced by ACPO Crime Prevention Initiatives Limited to
inform organisations about news and developments in Secured by Design, ACPO CPI Ltd and
related issues. The newsletter has recently increased from a yearly to a bi-monthly
publication, to promote the increasing number of SBD projects and developments nation-
wide.

SbD Focus can be viewed and downloaded via the Secured by Design Website:
www.securedbydesign.com
Re s e a r c h

Parental drug and alcohol misuse:

Resilience and transition among young
people
Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Copies of this report,
published in October 2004 can
be obtained priced £13.95 from
York Publishing Services Ltd, 64
Hallfield Road, Layerthorpe,
York YO31 7ZQ
Tel: 01904 430033
Fax: 01904 430868
E-mail: orders@
yps-publishing.co.uk
(title your email
‘Order Enquiry’) or download the
report free from their website:
www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/
eBooks/1859352499.pdf
Related findings can also be
downloaded via the website:
www.jrf.org.uk/
knowledge/findings/
socialpolicy/pdf/064.pdf
This study explores the experiences of 38
young people, both male and female
between the ages of 15 and 27 with at least
one parent with a drug or alcohol problem.
Participants were recruited from
various backgrounds through a range of
formal and informal settings to participate
in this research, which was conducted
using in-depth qualitative interviews to
explore the young people’s accounts of
their childhoods, current situations and
futures. The study examines:
• the situations they were in
• the difficulties they encountered
• what helped and the resources that
were available to them
• the choices they made
• where they are now and what they feel
the future holds for them.
Some of the key findings of the
research include:
• The young people’s interview accounts
portrayed disrupted and difficult lives.
Parental substance misuse was at the
centre of a web of problems that often
included violence and neglect. The
young people suggested that they only
gradually recognised that there was a
problem and they then had to manage
this knowledge both within the family
and beyond. Uncertainty about
reactions of others and concerns about
the stigma and types of interventions
that might ensue from services all
seemed to limit the sharing of their
difficulties. A large minority had drug
problems themselves and although this
may not have resulted directly from
parental substance misuse, it was
another source of vulnerability
for them.
• Alcohol and drug misuse had some
different impacts. Respondents with
alcohol-misusing parents talked more
about violence and parental
‘disappearances' from the home. The
short and long term effects of drugs on
the parent’s health could be more
frightening and the illegal nature of
drugs meant that respondents felt more
effort had to be put into concealment
and silence.
• Respondents also talked about their
futures, with many already moved into
independent accommodation,
sometimes supported by services. All
had similar goals and dreams in terms
of getting a job, a house and having a
family. For some, particularly those
with a substance misuse problem, their
focus was much more on the present
and getting their lives together. For
others, further or higher education was
seen as a route to ensure current or
future independence.

32 Publications & Publicity/Research January 2005

 When Violence Hits Home: How Economics
and Neighborhood Play a Role
United States Dept of Justice, National Institute of Justice

Previous research has explored how
people's personalities and relationships lead
to violence against women. The National
Institute of Justice (NIJ), the research,
development and evaluation agency of the
United States (U.S.) Department of Justice
have sponsored this study, which takes a
wider look at the causes of intimate
violence.
The study was compiled using data
from the U.S. Census and the National
Survey of Families and Households
(NSFH). It reveals that the incidence of
violence in the home is aggravated by
economic factors, apart from the character-
istics of the individuals involved. It looks at
the links between intimate violence and
personal and economic well being, as well
as how the neighbourhood in which
women live may influence them to stay in
or leave an abusive relationship.
Some of the main findings include:
• Women, who live in economically
disadvantaged communities and are
struggling with money in their own
relationships, suffer the greatest risk of
intimate violence.
• For the individuals involved, both
objective (being unemployed or not
making enough money to meet family
needs) and subjective (worrying about
finances) forms of economic distress,
increase the risk of intimate violence
against women.
• African-americans and whites with the
same economic characteristics have
similar rates of intimate violence. Copies of the summary and full
However, African-americans have a report, published in September
higher overall rate of intimate violence 2004 can be viewed and
partly due to higher levels of economic downloaded via the website:
distress and their location in www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/
disadvantaged neighbourhoods. pubs-sum/205004.htm

Crime in England and Wales: Quarterly

Update to June 2004
Home Office Statistical Bulletin 14/04

The latest British Crime Survey (BCS) figures are based on interviews with individuals living
in private households, conducted between July 2003 and June 2004 and incidents
experienced by survey respondents in the 12 months prior to their interview. The quarterly
crime figures show that vehicle theft, burglary and robbery have continued to fall.
The main points in this report include: There is also an online
• The risk of being a victim of crime is 25%. This is lower compared with the year to June supplement to this report
2003 and also lower than it was in 1981, the year of the first BCS. entitled: "Distraction burglary:
• Significant falls in vehicle thefts, all household crime and all personal crime compared recorded crime data", which is
with the year to June 2003. also available via the website
• Police statistics showed a 14% increase in violence against the person in April to June only: www.homeoffice.
2004, compared with the same period in the previous year. gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/
• Approximately half of all violent crimes recorded by the BCS and violence against the hosb1404supp.pdf%5D
person recorded by the police did not involve injury to the victim.
• The number of burglaries and vehicle thefts recorded by the police fell by 23% and 18% Application for reproduction of
respectively. these reports should be made
• In the year to June 2004, there were a provisional 10,590 firearm offences representing to the Research, Development
an increase of 3% compared with the previous year. and Statistics Directorate,
• Fear of crime has fallen compared with the previous year, as has the level of perceived Communications Development
anti-social behaviour. Unit, Room 264, 50 Queen
• Levels of confidence in most aspects of the criminal justice system (CJS) have improved, Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9AT
compared with the previous year. Tel: 020 7273 2084
Fax: 020 7222 0211
Copies of this report, published in October 2004 can be viewed and downloaded via the Home Office E-mail: publications.rds@
Website only: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/hosb1404.pdf homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

January 2005 Research 33

 Problem-Oriented Guides for Police -
Underage Drinking
Problem-Specific Guides Series No. 27 - United States Department of Justice

Copies of this report, published
in September 2004 can be
viewed and downloaded via
the website:
www.cops.usdoj.gov/
mime/open.pdf?Item
The Problem-Specific Guides summarise information on how the police can reduce the harm
caused by specific crime and disorder problems. They will be of most use to those who:
• Understand basic problem-oriented policing principles and methods.
• Can look at a problem in depth.
• Are willing to consider new ways of doing police business.
• Understand the value and limits of research knowledge.
• Are willing to work with other community agencies to find effective solutions.
The guides draw on research findings and police practices in the US, UK, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. This guide begins by describing the
problem of underage drinking and reviews factors that contribute to it. It identifies a series
of questions to help analyse local underage drinking problems, reviews responses to the
problem and provides data from evaluated research and police practices.

Tackling domestic violence: exploring the

health service contribution
Home Office Online Report 52/04

Copies of this report, published
in October 2004 can be viewed
and downloaded via the Home
Office Website only:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/
rds/pdfs04/
rdsolr5204.pdf%5D
Application for reproduction of
these reports should be made
to the Research, Development
and Statistics Directorate,
Communications Development
Unit, Room 264, 50 Queen
Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9AT
Tel: 020 7273 2084
Fax: 020 7222 0211
E-mail: publications.rds@
homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
This report describes the process and
outcome evaluations carried out on the 4
health projects (the health project package)
funded under the Crime Reduction
Programme (CRP) Violence Against Women
Initiative. Each project implemented a
different programme of work, with the
common element of sign posting women
into specialised support agencies.
The key findings include:
South West Birmingham Domestic
Violence Programme, which demon-
strated that the provision of outreach
support in a GP practice setting is one way
of providing readily accessible support to
women experiencing domestic violence. It
showed that provision of expanded help
line hours is very important in enabling
women to access services quickly. It also
highlighted that training and raising
awareness of health staff played an
important part in facilitating women’s
access to domestic violence support
services.
North Devon and Torridge Early
Inter vention Programme, which
succeeded in providing support to
survivors of domestic violence in an
accident and emergency (A&E) department
at relatively low cost to the agencies
concerned, by utilising Victim Support
volunteers. While the numbers using the
service were small, it is likely that there
would have been higher uptake had the
training for health staff been more compre-
hensive.
Salford Enhanced Evidence
Gathering Scheme, which showed that it
is possible to gather enhanced evidence by
using cameras in a GP practice. However,
the extremely low uptake (only one person
had photographs taken) and other reasons
identified in the report, means that it
cannot currently be regarded as a cost-
effective use of resources.
Wakefield Suppor t and Sur vival
Health Initiative, which demonstrated
that it is feasible to make routine enquiries
about experience of domestic abuse in a GP
practice. It indicated the value of short
surveys into the prevalence of domestic
abuse amongst women attending the
practice as one way of confirming the
importance of the issue in each practice.
The project also showed the importance of
introducing routine enquiry in GP practices
and the need for appropriate training.

34 Research January 2005

 Tackling Domestic Violence: the role of
health professionals
Home Office Development and Practice Report 32
The Crime Reduction Programme (CRP)
Violence Against Women Initiative (VAWI)
was an evidence-led programme that aimed
to find out which approaches and practices
were effective in supporting survivors of
domestic and sexual violence and in
reducing incidents of abuse. In July 2000,
34 multi-agency victim-focused projects
were funded, which developed and
implemented a range of interventions in
various settings and among different
population groups. Five of these projects
were based within health contexts, such as
primary care and accident and emergency
(A&E). All 5 projects aimed to encourage
and support the disclosure of domestic
violence and help the survivor’s entry into
specialist domestic violence support
services. This report is based upon findings
from independent evaluations of these
projects, as well as available published
research literature.
Decision-making by house burglars:
offender’s perspectives
Home Office Findings 249
This study was based on interviews carried
out in southern England with burglars who
were asked to describe the decisions they
had taken when planning and carrying out
domestic burglary. They also offered their
views on the deterrent value of various
interventions.
Some of the key points in the study
include:
• The main reasons given by
interviewees for starting burgling were
the influence of friends, the need to
fund drug use and boredom.
• Need of money for drugs was the main
reason given for more recent
burglaries.
• The likely 'yield' was a burglar's key
consideration when deciding which
house to target.
January 2005
About one in 4 women will experience
domestic violence at some time in their
lives, which can have short and long term
effects in terms of physical, mental and
sexual health. This report shows how health
professionals can make an important
contribution to tackling domestic
violence by:
• Asking women directly about whether
they have experienced abuse.
• Enabling women to access specialised
services.
• Supporting them in changing their
situation.
The health service also needs to take
action by:
• Improving availability of information
on domestic violence and services for
those who experience it.
• Providing/acquiring appropriate
training for health professionals.
• Instituting systems of enquiry about
domestic violence.
• Offenders were more likely to base
decisions about the attractiveness of a
property on beliefs that the occupants
had goods worth stealing than on
structural aspects of the building.
• Offenders were most likely to take
cash, jewellery, laptops and
credit cards.
• Over two-thirds of the sample said
they had returned to a property they
had burgled before and taken items
from it on a second occasion.
• Over half of the sample knew who
lived in the property they were
burgling.
• Interviewees did not believe burglary
to be risky, especially once they had
disposed of the goods taken.
Copies of this report, published
in October 2004 are available
free of charge from the
Research Development and
Statistics Directorate (RDS),
Communications Development
Unit, Room 264,
50 Queen Anne’s Gate,
London SW1H 9AT
Tel: 020 7273 2084
Fax: 020 7222 0211
E-mail: publications.rds@
homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Copies can also be viewed and
downloaded from the Home
Office Website:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/
rds/pdfs04/
dpr32.pdf%5D
Copies of this report, published
in November 2004 are available
free of charge from the
Research Development and
Statistics Directorate (RDS),
Communications Development
Unit, Room 264,
50 Queen Anne’s Gate,
London SW1H 9AT
Tel: 020 7273 2084
Fax: 020 7222 0211
E-mail: publications.rds@
homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Copies can also be viewed and
downloaded from the Home
Office Website:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/
rds/pdfs04/r249.pdf
Research 35

Copies of this report, published
in September 2004 are
available free of charge from
the Research Development and
Statistics Directorate (RDS),
Communications Development
Unit, Room 264,
50 Queen Anne’s Gate,
London SW1H 9AT
Tel: 020 7273 2084
Fax: 020 7222 0211
E-mail: publications.rds@
homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
and can also be viewed and
downloaded from the Home
Office Website:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/
rds/pdfs04/r257.pdf
36 Research
Piloting ‘On the spot penalties’ for
disorder: final results from a
one-year pilot
Home Office Research Findings 257
This report summarises the pilot scheme to issue penalty notices or ‘on the spot penalties’ to
punish low-level disorder offences such as ‘causing harassment, alarm or distress’ and
‘disorderly behaviour while drunk’introduced by the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. It
is considered one way of dealing speedily with anti-social offending and reducing the
workloads of both the police and courts.
The pilots ran for a 12-month period from August 2002 and took place in 4 police force
areas. These covered 11 disorder offences for those aged 18 or over. The purpose of penalty
notices for disorder (PNDs), often referred to as ‘on the spot fines’ was first considered in
the late 1990s as a way of accelerating action on the more serious cases by diverting less
serious cases from the court system.
Some of the key points in this report include:
• 6,043 PNDs were issued in the 4 pilot areas during the study period. 9 out of 10
were issued for just 2 offences: 2,951 (49%) for ‘causing harassment, alarm or distress’
and 2,530 (42%) for ‘disorderly behaviour while drunk’.
• Evidence from 2 pilot areas suggested that between a quarter and a half of PNDs went to
offenders who would otherwise have been cautioned or prosecuted. This suggests that
there were many new cases which received PNDs.
• Issuing PNDs was less time-consuming than current procedures, with an estimated
saving of between 1.5 and 2.5 police hours compared with a caution or prosecution.
• Fewer than 2% of recipients requested a court hearing.
• Police officers in the pilot areas favoured extending the range of (minor) offences for
which PNDs might be used.
ID Cards
Home Office
The Government is making good progress with plans for Identity (ID) Cards as suggested by
a Home Affairs Select Committee report produced last year.
Improvements to the scheme will make it simpler, clearer and more effective including:
• A single, universal ID card for all UK nationals issued alongside passports will simplify
the operation of the scheme and reflects public support for a universal card.
• A new executive agency will be set up incorporating the UK Passport Service, working
closely with the Home Office Immigration and Nationalist Directorate.
• A simpler and more secure verification process. There will be a standardised on-line
verification service that will make the system more secure against fraud and provide a
full audit trail.
A summary of responses to public consultation on and research into the public’s views
on ID cards has also been published and can be viewed on-line via the website:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/comrace/identitycards/index.html
For more information contact the Home Office Identity Cards Programme Team, 50 Queen Anne's Gate,
London SW1H 9AT
Tel: 0870 000 1585 E-mail: identitycards@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
January 2005
 Answers on a Postcard
Performance managing and yet still managing to perform
Unaccustomed as I am to playing devil's
advocate (not), in this edition I am going
to raise the question of whether the world
has gone performance management crazy? I
am not for one moment suggesting that
performance management is not important,
because knowing whether initiatives are
working as planned is clearly essential, but
rather is there currently too much emphasis
placed on measuring performance, or is it
about right?
Recently for me, this question has
surfaced after several conversations with
practitioners. One told me that he felt the
current climate demanded that so much
time be dedicated to the management of
performance, that often not enough was
left to actually perform, that is to
implement initiatives as comprehensively
as he would have liked. Is this a common
view or just an isolated experience? I am
not questioning whether we need targets
(personally I think we do, but this could be
a discussion for the future), it is the
management of performance I want to look
at, which, although it includes target
setting (such as milestones), also includes
objectives, outcomes, outputs etc.
One practitioner told me of an
interesting situation that he found himself
in as the manager of a crime reduction
initiative in Merseyside (the names and
figures have been changed to protect the
innocent). Manager X said that he had set
the objective of reducing commercial
burglary in a specific area by 12 per year,
which equated to the milestone objective
of 3 per quarter (i.e. 1 per month). In the
first quarter he reported to the Crime and
...knowing whether initiatives are working
“ as planned is clearly essential, but is there
currently too much emphasis placed on
measuring performance?...
January 2005
Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP)
Board that commercial burglaries had been
reduced by 6, which was 50% of the
initiative's objective for the entire year. In
the next quarter they reduced by 2. When
he presented the second quarter's update to
the CDRP board he was asked why the
initiative had slipped off track and had not
reached its quarterly target of 3, despite
achieving 2/3 of its objective for the whole
year in the first 6 months!
Hopefully, the above is an isolated and
extreme example, but it does suggest that
sometimes we might not see the wood for
the trees as far as performance management
and achieving targets are concerned. In its
defence, it was not performance
management per-se, which gave rise to this
scenario. Appropriate use of performance
management shows us that this initiative
was surpassing its objective by a country
mile, but implementing performance
targets to the 'nth' degree to clarify
performance can have the opposite effect
and actually cloud it.
Please e-mail your views on this subject and any
good, bad or ugly scenarios and I'll put them
together in the next edition. Answers on a
postcard please to:
jason.roach2@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
” Talking Shop 37
 Criminology Corner 4
In this edition I am going to introduce a topic that does not readily spring from criminology
or crime science, but nevertheless has promising implications for all of us tasked with
reducing crime. I introduced the topic in the last edition as 'knowledge management', but in
the meantime it has changed its name to 'Improving Performance through Applied
Knowledge' - IPAK. So that's the new name, but what is it and how is it going to help with
crime reduction practice?
IPAK represents an attempt to collect and collate all the knowledge we have acquired
about various crime types, distil it and disseminate it via a host of different media. In plain
English, it is a project which will draw together all good practice, practitioner experience,
academic knowledge and research and make it available to practitioners in 'user-friendly'
ways. The policing side of the Home Office is planning to use IPAK to improve police
performance. You are probably thinking, well there are a host of different databases already,
which display good practice, what is the point of another one? IPAK is not about just
databases, nor is it about just good practice, instead it is about 'good knowledge'. Good
practice tends to be thought of as those initiatives that achieve positive outcomes and which
we can all replicate. I have suggested before that this is too narrow a definition. Good
practice represents far more than just projects worth replicating, such as: how to do
something, what works and why? Good knowledge on the other hand, represents a wider
more comprehensive definition, which encompasses:
• Good practice examples.
• Knowledge about crime and crime types - what we know already.
• Tacit knowledge - knowledge about how something was done (such as getting elected
members on side, or partners around a table).

The IPAK project aims to improve crime reduction performance by drawing together
these 3 different types of knowledge and packaging them for practitioners to use. So, how
will it work? The IPAK process begins at the Review and Generate stage. Here good ideas and
practice are collected and collated and combined with 'what we already know' about a
particular crime type, for example, burglary. This knowledge is then formally evaluated and
validated at the Consolidate stage of the IPAK process. At this stage the audiences for the
knowledge are identified and dissemination considered. At the last stage, Implement, ways of
delivering the knowledge are developed; existing practice reviewed and the knowledge is
disseminated using various media.
The IPAK process should produce (at least in theory at the moment) valuable knowledge
products for practitioners to use, which fuse together all the knowledge and good practice
about specific crime types. At present there is either a dearth of specific crime type
knowledge or an array of conflicting information in plethora of different forms, found in a
multitude of disparate places, most of which have limited or no evaluation. IPAK aims to
alleviate this practitioner headache.
The IPAK process is about to be piloted, which will take until September 2005. Initially,
it will focus on burglary and preventing youth drug misuse. I apologise if I have raised your
hopes only to tell you that you have to wait until next year, but I thought it a good idea to
start raising practitioner interest now, especially as we will be asking for good knowledge
from you all very soon. 'Improving Performance through Applied Knowledge', please
remember it - it promises much in the future.
I'll get back to mainstream criminology and crime science in the next edition and
explore the importance of Repeat Victimisation.

Please send your comments to my usual e-mail: jason.roach2@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Theory and practice are even closer than you think

38 Criminology Corner January 2005

Index
Alcohol-related crime ................................................................................................................4, 10, 40
Anti-social .....................................................1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 33, 36, 40
Arson .............................................................................................................................................17, 19
ASBO ..................................................................................................................................................14
Burglary ....................................................................................................7, 9, 15, 18, 33, 35, 37, 38, 40
Car park ..........................................................................................................................................7, 10
Forecourt ..........................................................................................................................................2, 8
CCTV .....................................................................................................................................3, 7, 23, 25
Community Safety ............................................................................1, 2, 5, 14, 15, 16, 20, 23, 24, 30, 40
Council ...........................................................................................4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 20, 21, 23
Crime and disorder .................................................................1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 16, 18, 23, 28, 30, 34, 37, 40
Crime Prevention Officer .....................................................................................................................22
Crime reduction .....................................1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 30, 34, 35, 37, 38
Domestic abuse ............................................................................................................................21, 34
Domestic violence ............................................................................................2, 3, 4, 21, 29, 34, 35, 40
Drugs ......................................................................................... 1, 3, 7, 12, 24, 26, 30, 31, 32, 35, 38, 40
Firearms .............................................................................................................................................33
Good Practice ............................................................................................2, 4, 15, 19, 26, 27, 29, 30, 38
Graffiti .................................................................................................................................2, 13, 20, 24
Grant ..................................................................................................................................................27
HM Customs and Excise ......................................................................................................................12
ID Cards ..........................................................................................................................................3, 36
Ideas Exchange .............................................................................................................................2, 4, 6
Knives .............................................................................................................................................3, 27
Local authorities .................................................................................................. 1, 17, 19, 24, 28, 30, 31
Mobile Phone ............................................................................................................................2, 12, 20
Neighbourhood Watch ...........................................................................................2, 4, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21
Neighbourhood Watch Association .................................................................................................2, 19
Police .....................................................1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25,
........................................................................................................26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 36, 38
Primary Care Trusts ....................................................................................................................8, 18, 31
Problem-oriented policing ........................................................................................................3, 26, 34
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 .................................................................................................................12
Racism ............................................................................................................................................3, 22
Safety ................................................1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 30, 40
Secured by Design .....................................................................................................................3, 31, 32
Security ..............................................................................................2, 7, 8, 9, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 31
Sexual Crime ...................................................................................................................................2, 18
Toolkits ................................................................................................................................................4
Vehicles ........................................................................................................2, 7, 8, 10, 13, 17, 19, 33, 40
Victims ......................................................................................................9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 29, 33, 34, 35
Violence ..........................................................................................2, 3, 4, 21, 24, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, 40
Website .........2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40

January 2005 Index 39

 The Digest - previous issues

October 2004
• The Tilley Award Winners 2004
• Community Safety Booklets
• Improving Confidence in Justice
• Out on the town - and out of control? Reducing
alcohol-related crime and disorder
• Identity Theft Prevention Website
• Annual Youth Justice Convention 2004
• Assessing the impact of the Reducing Burglary Initiative
in southern England and Wales

July 2004
• Burglaries & Crime in Student Campus Accommodation
• Grand in the Hand Helps Tackle Anti-social Behaviour
• National Domestic Violence Helpline
• Questionnaire on Community Safety Qualifications
• Vehicle Crime Information Pack
• Card Fraud Prevention Leaflet
• Safer Places: The Planning System and Crime Prevention

April 2004
• Cannabis is STILL illegal
• Avon & Somerset put Bristol's students in space
• Watch Over Me
• Operation Eskell
• Safer Homes Initiative
• International Community Justice Awards
• Best Practice? Finding your way through the fog

January 2004
• Building Civil Renewal
• Philip Lawrence Awards
• Experimenting...with Drugs
• Take Stock of Your Lock
• Hats off to crime
• Safe and Sound in Teeside

You can view this edition of the Digest and previous issues at:
www.crimereduction.gov.uk/digest.htm

40 The Digest - previous issues January 2005